# Can opening the package void the warranty? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 8, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-opening-the-package-void-the-warranty/488742 "2009-03-08T18:00:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-opening-the-package-void-the-warranty/488742/1 "2009-03-08T18:00:07Z")
[Inspired by the top image, where it’s apparent that opening the envelope containing the installation media is promised to void the warranty on the software being sold.](http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Opener-Beware.aspx) Is that a valid loophole? Warranties can already expire, meaning they are nullified by a predetermined amount of time presumably including normal usage within that time. There are also shrinkwrap licenses, so called because breaching the shrinkwrapping on the package the install media is sold in signifies your acceptance of the terms of the license. Is the iteration of the concept in the image above valid? ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-opening-the-package-void-the-warranty/488742/2 "2009-03-08T19:19:50Z")
Here are a few relevant court cases, courtesy of Wikipedia: > **[End-user license agreement | Shrink-wrap and click-wrap licenses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EULA#Shrink-wrap_and_click-wrap_licenses)** > > The term shrink-wrap license refers colloquially to any software license agreement which is enclosed within a software package and is inaccessible to the customer until after purchase. Typically, the license agreement is printed on paper included inside the boxed software. It may also be presented to the user on-screen during installation, in which case the license is sometimes referred to as a click-wrap license. The inability of the customer to review the license agreement before purchasing the... ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-opening-the-package-void-the-warranty/488742/3 "2009-03-08T19:34:57Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > [Inspired by the top image, where it’s apparent that opening the envelope containing the installation media is promised to void the warranty on the software being sold.](http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Opener-Beware.aspx) Is that a valid loophole? Warranties can already expire, meaning they are nullified by a predetermined amount of time presumably including normal usage within that time. There are also shrinkwrap licenses, so called because breaching the shrinkwrapping on the package the install media is sold in signifies your acceptance of the terms of the license. Is the iteration of the concept in the image above valid? I looked at the image and I have to believe that some bozo put the wrong sticker on the envelope. Generally you see stickers like that on hardware, like disk drives. The stickers on software envelopes say, as you mention, that opening the package implies consent to the licensing terms. It would be just stupid to void a warranty if the product is used as intended… ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-opening-the-package-void-the-warranty/488742/4 "2009-03-08T19:40:47Z")
Considering that the link is to a TDWTF article, I would have to agree with **CookingWithGas** that “stupid mistake” is the most likely explanation. 😃