Firmware update blocks ink from third-party vendors

HP is well-known for not having the most customer-friendly business processes with its printers. The new firmware update is being rolled out and blocks third-party ink cartridges. This is despite the fact the company has already lost the corresponding court case which forbids such practices.

Firmware update to HP printers blocks third party ink

Ars Technica reports that HP lost a court case due to its questionable DRM practices. This was regarding HP printers with Dynamic Security features that made it impossible to use cartridges from third-party vendors.

The manufacturer appears to have now installed a new firmware update which does exactly the same thing again. Third-party cartridges that are cheaper than the manufacturer’s ink cartridges will be rejected and not allowed to be used.

Reddit is witnessing a thread grow, where users continue to report ink cartridge rejections. Here’s what error message the HP printers are giving out:

“The recognized cartridges were blocked by the printer firmware because they contain a non-HP chip,” It says. These printers are not intended to be used with ink cartridges other than those that have a current or used HP chip. The error message continues.

There have been more than 17,000 upvotes, 980 comments and over 17,000 likes from the affected thread. These are the proofs that HP has again taken umbrage at printer owners.

HP printers with Dyncamic security Label: All legal

Legally, HP has covered its tracks very well, as shown in an official support letter about printers with Dynamic Security labels.

“Dynamic-Security printers should only work with cartridges that contain new or reused HP chips or electronic circuitry.”

They also point out that firmware updates to HP printers can force the blocking of third party ink cartridges.