FTC spurs Nintendo to change warranty policies

Nintendo has changed its warranty policies after the U.S. government warned them that they were violating the law.

The Japanese game company was one of six firms the Federal Trade Commission told to change their policies because they wrongly told customers that using an unlicensed repair shop on their product would void their warranties.

The agency expressed specific concern about stickers on products such as game consoles that had this information.

In Nintendo’s case, a line in its policy specifically said using “products not sold or licensed by Nintendo” with its products would void the warranty.

In a statement, Nintendo of America said it has changed its policies after some review.

“We have updated our warranty text to clarify that Nintendo provides warranty service for defects not caused by the user or by other unauthorized acts,” the statement said.

The FTC declined to comment. The agency said in April that it had sent letters to six unnamed companies.

A later report from Motherboard revealed, through a Freedom of Information Act request, that those firms were Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, HTC, Asus and Hyundai.

The letters said the agency would review the policies again in 30 days, and reserved the right to pursue legal action and seek “appropriate” remedies.

The FTC told six firms to change their policies because they wrongly said using an unlicensed repair shop would void their warranties.