HP BLOCKS THIRD-PARTY INK CARTRIDGES AGAIN, LEAVING USERS FRUSTRATED

Mon 13 March 2023:

HP is once again blocking users from using third-party ink cartridges in HP printers. People have grown increasingly frustrated with HPHewlett-Packard (HP) as it has used firmware updates to prevent the use of non-HP ink cartridges in its printers. The reason given by the company was security.

People reported the problem on Twitter and Reddit. According to a report in The Verge, a recent firmware upgrade for printers has disabled the use of non-HP ink as part of the company’s strict “dynamic security” policy.

Notably, HP had earlier faced class-action lawsuits for its “dynamic security,” besides widespread criticism. Dynamic security prompts HP printers to authenticate whether the ink cartridges being used are of HP or not. It blocks the use of ink or toner cartridges that do not include “new or reused HP chips or electronic circuitry”.

HP introduced dynamic security in 2016, but only to some printers. But since 2018, it has paid millions in class-action lawsuits for the policy, including to customers in the US, Australia, and Italy.

Despite the criticism, HP has expanded it to more devices. This has sparked outrage and frustration among users.

According to one Reddit user, “HP have updated their printers to outright ban ‘non-HP’ ink!” Reddit user grhhull contacted the company and was told that “this is due to the recent ‘update’ of all printers”.

Since late last year, several users have complained about being unable to use non-HP ink cartridges. However, it is unclear when the company issued the update.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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