Tech giant HP is facing a consumer backlash over its sudden move to block the use of cheaper third-party ink cartridges in its printers. There are reports that counterfeit ink cartridges are already available to trick the updated HP printers.
Consumer advocacy group Choice is investigating whether the company has breached Australian Consumer Laws and the US-based Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has launched a petition calling on HP to restore the original functionality...and make amends for its self-destructing printers.
A couple of weeks ago, owners of HP printers who were using cheaper non-HP ink began receiving error messages such as: "cartridge problem" or "one or more cartridges are missing or damaged." After a flood of complaints, HP confirmed in a press release that that it had added a firmware update to protect its "innovations and intellectual property":
HP implemented updates to the firmware related to the security chip in HP OfficeJet, OfficeJet Pro and OfficeJet Pro X printers that maintains secure communications between the cartridge and the printer. These printers will continue to work with refilled or re-manufactured cartridges with an Original HP security chip. Other cartridges may not function.
Choice has begun an investigation to determine whether HP has breached consumer law by preventing consumers from using third-party ink cartridges.
"We're concerned that HP is throwing its weight around in order to lock consumers into buying its expensive ink, taking away consumer choice and treating its customers terribly," says Choice head of media Tom Godfrey. "After years of being able to use non-HP ink, consumers have a reasonable expectation that they will be able to continue to choose which ink they will use. If consumers bought an HP printer relying on the fact that it could use non-HP ink, and HP has unilaterally taken that functionality away, then there is a risk that the company is breaching consumer law."
Choice compared the numbers on ink costs and found HP's yellow ink will set you back $5128 per litre - which is more expensive than luxury items like Chanel No 5 ($3514 a litre).
"When you consider that HP printer ink can cost around 50% more than some expensive perfumes, this is a black day for ink consumers," Godfrey says.
The EFF - a US nonprofit devoted to defending technological freedom, human rights and privacy in courtrooms, legislatures, and online - accused HP of running a 'bait and switch' and launched a petition calling on the company to restore the original functionality of their printers with a firmware update that rolls back the self-destruct sequence.
"HP recently activated a secret feature in its Officejet Pro printers (and possibly other models) that causes the printers to refuse to print with third-party or recycled ink cartridges," said the EFF. "HP is just the latest of many companies to use DRM [Digital Rights Management] technologies to place artificial limits on what you can do with your property. DRM is bad for innovation, it’s bad for users’ rights, and it’s a security disaster. Please join us in demanding that HP make amends for its self-destructing printers."
The EFF petition, which has about 9,000 signatures at last count, can be signed here.
"HP customers should be able to use the ink of their choosing in their printers for the same reason that Cuisinart customers should be able to choose whose bread goes in their toasters," says Cory Doctorow, EFF.
Auckland cartridge supplier Toner Direct - which sells both manufacturers' original and third-party consumables online - says it has received many complaints from people 'jumping up and down' about the change. MD Trevor Johnston told stuff.co.nz there was an argument that HP was 'protecting its brand' and said that there was nothing particularly new in HP's tactic, which other printer manufacturers had also tried.
But he warned that some third-party cartridge makers have already come out with new cartridges which trick the updated printers into thinking they were genuine HP parts. He said the game of cat and mouse between HP and those suppliers could have an impact on customers' purchasing decisions.
Toner Direct's opinion was that consumers should have choice, he said.