Question:
I want to replace my refrigerator filter but the GE brand costs about $50. The less expensive brand is $36. Apparently they have a chip that tells the fridge to let it work. The ones without the chip are 3 pcs for $26 approximately. I found instructions online to bypass the chip problem since many people don't want to pay a fortune for filters. Is this halachically acceptable? I wouldn't buy the GE brand anyway since the cheaper brand with chip is about $14 less and does the job.
Answer:
Hello,
It is permitted to install a program that will bypass the chip so that it can’t limit the filters use. It is your refrigerator, and you are allowed to install whatever filter you want, (as long as you didn’t sign an agreement with GE to only use their filters). By the way, it is the same with printers, the printer companies install a chip that limits the use of the toner, so you should have to buy another one from them, (which is really dishonest, to force you to support them) and it is permitted to install a program which bypasses this.
Best wishes
