Many consumers are interested in refilling ink cartridges because it helps them save money and because it helps the environment. People realize that throwing away ink cartridges after one use can be pretty wasteful, especially when you go through them regularly. But even though they are interested in refilling their cartridges, some people are hesitant because they believe that by using an ink refill kit that they will void their printer's warranty. Well, we just want to make it clear that is not the case. Refilling your cartridge WILL NOT void your warranty. It is a common misconception because for a long time printer manufacturers issued vague (or sometimes not so vague) warnings to consumers about how they could not refill their cartridges without voiding the warranty. In reality, who could blame them? After all, printer manufacturers do not make their money selling the printers; they make it from the printer ink.

Luckily over the past few years people have become more aware of what their rights actually are. The specific legislation that addresses this issue is the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act and also the Sherman & Clayton Antitrust Acts. What they basically say is that a manufacturer cannot force you to use a particular brand of products in their machine. It would be like an auto manufacturer telling you that you can only put a certain type of gas in your car. Or Sony telling you that if you own one of their DVD players that you will void the warranty if you play anything but movies from Sony Pictures.

Once you own a printer, you are free to use whatever products you want in it without having to worry about being denied service under your original warranty. You cannot be penalized simply because you choose to try an alternative to the highly expensive manufacturer's ink.

Magnuson-Moss Act Information at the FTC's site - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/warranty.htm#Magnuson-Moss