Geplante Obsoleszenz

This thesis examines the subject of planned obsolescence under the aspect of legal admissibility. This intentional limitation of a product’s service life by its manufacturer is both interesting from a scholarly perspective and relevant in practice, and harbours significant uncertainties for all parties involved (buyer, vendor and manufacturer).
The author considers the legal limits of planning and limiting service life and the extent to which the planned lifetime has to be disclosed. Furthermore, possibilities for buyers of products with short intended lifespans to effectively defend themselves are explored. Finally, solutions are proposed in order to eliminate existing grey areas.
Subjects of this analysis are the German laws on sales contracts, unfair competition and manufacturer's liability, as well as general legal bases under civil law and antitrust legislation. The thesis is suitable for use in both scholarly and professional environments.