Complaints from consumers who had chosen to buy the Intellivision specifically on the promise of a "coming soon" personal-computer upgrade eventually caught the attention of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), who started investigating Mattel Electronics for fraud and false advertising. Mattel explained to the FTC that the Keyboard Component was a failed product, avoiding fines. Mattel subsequently cancelled the product in August 1982, and offered to buy back all of the existing Keyboard Components from customers. Mattel provided a full refund, but customers without a receipt received for the Keyboard Component, for the BASIC cartridge, and for each cassette software. Any customer who opted to keep the products was required to sign a waiver with the understanding that no more software would be written for the system and absolving Mattel of any future responsibility for technical support. They were also compensated with worth of Mattel Electronics products.
Complaints from consumers who had chosen to buy the Intellivision specifically on the promise of a "coming soon" personal-computer upgrade eventually caught the attention of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) who started investigating Mattel Electronics for fraud and false advertising Mattel explained to the FTC that the Keyboard Component was a failed product avoiding fines Mattel subsequently cancelled the product in August 1982 and offered to buy back all of the existing Keyboard Components from customers Mattel provided a full refund but customers without a receipt received for the Keyboard Component for the BASIC cartridge and for each cassette software Any customer who opted to keep the products was required to sign a waiver with the understanding that no more software would be written for the system and absolving Mattel of any future responsibility for technical support They were also compensated with worth of Mattel Electronics products