Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

TODO: Would like someone to look over the law's textand give a more robust summary; until then the summary is from Wikipedia.

Summary

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is a piece of federal law enacted in the United States. The law sets some of the rules that manufacturers must follow when giving warranties, if they choose to provide one. Some of the rules are (may not be legally valid; consult legal experts for specifics):

• Warranties must be specified in clear language.
• It is prohibited to require only "branded parts" as a requirement for a warranty.
• There are additional requirements imposed upon manufacturers if they choose to advertise a "full warranty".

In cases of violation, consumers are encouraged to negotiate with warrantors under arbitration. Additionally, the federal government and consumers are able to file civil suits in the courts.

History of Enforcement

The Act is an important piece of legislation, but the enforcement is a mixed bag. Although it is enforced, often the fines are low to nothing, and this causes manufacturers to disregard it. It is encouraged for legislators and the Federal Trade Commission to more strictly enforce the Act and hold vendors accountable.