HP launched an update that ``the printer refuses to print if non-genuine ink is used'' and the user's anger exploded

HP has released an update that prevents printers from working with third-party ink cartridges. Users have reportedly complained about genuine HP ink costing more than twice as much as third-party ink.

>HP disables customers' printers if they use ink cartridges from cheaper rivals

Millions hit by home printing block - you must use official and expensive ink or your printer gets disabled - Mirror Online

The update in question has been distributed since March 2023. HP explains that this feature is 'used to protect the quality of the customer experience, maintain the integrity of the printing system, and protect intellectual property.' Users are fighting back by switching to older printers, which are not covered by the ink-disabling feature.

HP printers block non-genuine ink with firmware update, how to avoid it? -GIGAZINE

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British news media The Telegraph said on May 11, 2023, users were angry that HP printers using third-party ink cartridges stopped working due to this update. I reported that

For example, Twitter user Lina Invers said in a tweet quoted by The Telegraph, 'I was confused as to why my printer wouldn't print, but HP ink cartridges require a monthly subscription fee to work. It turns out, this is absolutely crazy, the printer blocks the ink in the cartridge.'

We've been confused about why the printer won't print. Turns out hp has ink cartridges that won't work if you're not paying their monthly subscription. That's an absolutely crazy thing to do. Got my printer blocking the ink that's IN THE CARTRIDGE

— lina inverse ˣ (@Lazecapri) May 8, 2023

Also on HP's official forums, a user named Ronnie Joe said, 'My printer refuses to print when non-HP cartridges are installed. I can't believe it's legal to do this. Hmm, I think this is a mistake, how can I disable this feature and continue to use non-HP ink cartridges?'To protect me from poor print quality and damage to my printer' Please don't make the usual excuse,' he wrote.

HP's response to forcing users to purchase genuine ink cartridges, which cost more than twice as much as third-party ink cartridges, has greatly displeased users, but this is the first time HP has blocked third-party ink. not.

Since HP introduced this 'dynamic security' feature in 2016, it has been sued in the United States, Australia, Europe, etc. and forced to pay compensation of millions of dollars (hundreds of millions of yen). For example, in 2022, we paid $1.35 million to consumers in Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Portugal who purchased printers without knowing that third-party inks would be blocked.

In addition, a consumer group has found that the price of genuine ink and 'dynamic security' are unfair to consumers, based on the results of a survey that ink cartridges from unknown brands are more cost-effective than those from major manufacturers. We are asking the market competition authority to investigate.

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To fend off such criticism, HP is rolling out a monthly ' Instant Ink ' service that claims to save you 70% of your money compared to buying a single ink cartridge. The price starts from $ 0.99 (about 134 yen) for the light plan that can print 10 pages each month, and the most popular is the moderate plan that can print 100 pages at $ 5.99 (about 813 yen).

An HP spokesperson, responding to inquiries from The Telegraph, said only some printers have the 'dynamic security' feature, but didn't specify which ones. This feature blocks cartridges that don't use HP chips, but some 3rd party cartridges have reused HP chips, so those products would normally HP explains that it works as it should.