*PLANNED PRODUCT OBSOLESCENCE* Part 1.

US TECH GIANT Apple and Japanese printer maker Epson face growing legal pressure in France over alleged planned obsolescence-

In their products as consumer groups make use of the country's law against the practice.

The association Stop Planned Obsolescence [HOP or Halte a IÓbsolescence Programmee] said it had filed a complaint against Apple after the company admitted to intentionally slowing down its iPhones as they age,

''Apple has put in place a global programme of planned obsolescence with a view to increasing its sales.'' the association said in a statement.

The group hailed a breakthrough in a separate case against printer manufacturers when prosecutors opened a probe into Epson over claims that it was tricking consumers into changing ink cartridges before they were empty.

''It's very good news. For the first time in France and to our knowledge in the world, judicial authorities of a country have taken up a case of  planned obsolescence.'' the association's lawyer, Emile Meunier, told AFP.

Planned obsolescence is a widely criticised commercial practice in which manufacturers build in the expiry of their products so that consumers will be forced to replace them.

It is decried by consumer groups as being unethical and is suspected of being particularly prevalent in the electronics industry, which produces mountains of unrecyclable waste each year.