Legal Wording for Compatible Products (United Kingdom)

[MG500]

We have a *unnamed* company which sells replacement parts for branded products. For example, we have ink cartridges which are made at the exact same factory as Cannon. It is the exact same product, but obviously not bought under or from Cannon.


We've read the eBay legal guidelines which state:


"""You can use 'compatible with', 'fits' or 'for' before a brand name in the title of your listing if the item is specifically designed to be compatible with products of that brand
Don't use 'compatible with', 'fits' or 'for' before a brand name in the title of your listing to describe items that are universally compatible ro that are compatible with an entire product class
Example: If you're listing charms that can go with charm bracelets, describe your product as 'for charm bracelets' or 'fits charm bracelets' instead of 'fits' or 'for' a particular product or brand of bracelets"""


We are unsure whether this is a legal standard for the UK. If it is, does that mean we can use the following titles:

1. Ink Cartridge for Cannon IPX89 Printer
2. Ink Cartridge fits Cannon IPX89 Printer
3. Ink Cartridge Cannon IPX89 Printer Compatible

Which of these are legally Okay, if any?

[paulajayne]

Re: Legal Wording for Compatible Products (United Kingdom)

1. implies that it is a Cannon one - so down to two - Experts will be along with the answer.

[MG500]

Re: Legal Wording for Compatible Products (United Kingdom)

1. implies that it is a Cannon one - so down to two - Experts will be along with the answer.

Thanks. I searched the internet for a while but couldn't find a relevant thread on the subject. Maybe searching the wrong keywords.

[MG500]

Re: Legal Wording for Compatible Products (United Kingdom)

We have a *unnamed* company which sells replacement parts for branded products. For example, we have ink cartridges which are made at the exact same factory as Cannon. It is the exact same product, but obviously not bought under or from Cannon.


We've read the eBay legal guidelines which state:


"""You can use 'compatible with', 'fits' or 'for' before a brand name in the title of your listing if the item is specifically designed to be compatible with products of that brand
Don't use 'compatible with', 'fits' or 'for' before a brand name in the title of your listing to describe items that are universally compatible ro that are compatible with an entire product class
Example: If you're listing charms that can go with charm bracelets, describe your product as 'for charm bracelets' or 'fits charm bracelets' instead of 'fits' or 'for' a particular product or brand of bracelets"""


We are unsure whether this is a legal standard for the UK. If it is, does that mean we can use the following titles:

1. Ink Cartridge for Cannon IPX89 Printer
2. Ink Cartridge fits Cannon IPX89 Printer
3. Ink Cartridge Cannon IPX89 Printer Compatible

Which of these are legally Okay, if any?

Sorry to bump this but is there anybody that can help with this?

[Kati]

Re: Legal Wording for Compatible Products (United Kingdom)

Personally I'd be going for #3 (it is compatible with the printer) over the other choices ... it's not an area I've got any expertise in :sorry: but it is the most 'professional' sounding one imo

Maybe change it to

Ink Cartridge compatible with Cannon IPX89 Printer

?

[nemesis45]

Re: Legal Wording for Compatible Products (United Kingdom)

Personally I'd be going for #3 (it is compatible with the printer) over the other choices ... it's not an area I've got any expertise in :sorry: but it is the most 'professional' sounding one imo

Maybe change it to ?

That's the wording I see on refilled cartridges , Tesco " equivalent " cartridges Says compatible with and lists printer names and types.
nem

[MG500]

Re: Legal Wording for Compatible Products (United Kingdom)

Thanks for your reply. I also think it looks the most legitimate but it would be great to have feedback on the first two examples as well to know if they are legally sound as they seem to line up with the eBay guidelines, which one would think is legally sound.

[nemesis45]

Re: Legal Wording for Compatible Products (United Kingdom)

Thanks for your reply. I also think it looks the most legitimate but it would be great to have feedback on the first two examples as well to know if they are legally sound as they seem to line up with the eBay guidelines, which one would think is legally sound.

Tesco have never been questioned on this as far as I know.
nem

[MG500]

Re: Legal Wording for Compatible Products (United Kingdom)

Do you think we should take this eBay page as our guidance for legal advice as it is titled 'Creating legally compliant listings'. - http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/compliant-listings.html

"""You can use 'compatible with', 'fits' or 'for' before a brand name in the title of your listing if the item is specifically designed to be compatible with products of that brand
Don't use 'compatible with', 'fits' or 'for' before a brand name in the title of your listing to describe items that are universally compatible ro that are compatible with an entire product class
Example: If you're listing charms that can go with charm bracelets, describe your product as 'for charm bracelets' or 'fits charm bracelets' instead of 'fits' or 'for' a particular product or brand of bracelets"""

That is the page which I got my quoted text in blue above. According to that, am I correct in interpreting that examples 1 and 2 would be legally compliant?
i.e.


Ink Cartridge for Cannon IPX89 Printer
Ink Cartridge fits Cannon IPX89 Printer

[MissFM]

Re: Legal Wording for Compatible Products (United Kingdom)

The cynic in me doubts that Ebay troubles its pretty little head over client liability:flypig:

I agree with the above that "compatible" and "equivalent" sound less likely to tread on Canon's toes.

You could always preface the last two options with "generic" or "unbranded" if you wanted to make it absolutely clear that you're neither claiming them to be sanctioned by Canon nor have they fallen from the back of a lorry. :wink: