§ 255.9 - Use of third-party hardware, software and databases.

(a) No system may prohibit or restrict, directly or indirectly, the use of:

(1) Third-party computer hardware or software in conjunction with CRS services, except as necessary to protect the integrity of the system, or

(2) A CRS terminal to access directly any other system or database providing information on airline services, unless the terminal is owned by the system.

(b) This section prohibits, among other things, a system's:

(1) Imposition of fees in excess of commercially reasonable levels to certify third-party equipment;

(2) Undue delays or redundant or unnecessary testing before certifying such equipment;

(3) Refusal to provide any services normally provided subscribers because of a subscriber's use of third-party equipment or because of the subscriber's using the same equipment (unless owned by the system) for access to both the system and to another system or database; and

(4) Termination of a subscriber contract because of the subscriber's use of third-party equipment or use of the same equipment for access to the system and to another system or database.

(c) A system shall make available to developers of third-party hardware and software on commercially reasonable terms the nonproprietary system architecture specifications and other nonproprietary technical information needed to enable such developers to create products that will be compatible with the system.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any system or system owner to:

(1) Develop or supply any particular product, device, hardware or software to enable a subscriber to use another system, or

(2) Provide service or support with respect to any product, device, hardware, software, or service not provided to a subscriber by the system or system owner.