"HP Is Blocking Unofficial Replacement Cartridges For Its Inkjet Printers"

[nekowaiidesu]

HP Is Blocking Unofficial Replacement Cartridges For Its Inkjet Printers | Lifehacker Australia

HP officially responds to pre-programmed failure date of non-HP cartridges - Myce.com


Just saw this now and thought I'd share in the rants thread. Any thoughts on the above?

[NeoMatrix]

The fact that HP can intruded willy-nilly in an out of business and home users firmware to their printers is a tad scary in itself.What other interest in the name of "copyright protected" communication and data acquisitions is HP passing back and forth from Printer to computer, and then onto where ever ?

The hacking of HP firmware to pass scanned social security information from printers has already be covered in other threads on CTN. The fact the HP even has software hackable printer hardware with two way communications built into their consumer machines is a worry.

We live in an information age. If industry of any sort steps over the line, that questionable activity will eventually raise to the surface an be splashed all over the internet. It only takes one disgruntled industry employee to spill the beans. So it is a real case of industry beware, the world is watching. Those consumers in return will watch were they spend their next dollar. People will vote harshly with their wallets for any corporation who elevates themselves above acceptable ethical behaviour.


The question of ethics an morals will always come to light over an above any corporate bank balance justifications.

[theengel]

Nothing new here, I don't think. The vendors will respond by making ctgs that will fit with the modified firmware. Lexmark went through something similar, and then filed lawsuit against Static Control for making chips that would work with their software. They lost. HP is just making it harder, but the ink vendors will always find ways around it. They might even come up with their own firmware upgrades.

[NeoMatrix]

Nothing new here, I don't think. The vendors will respond by making ctgs that will fit with the modified firmware. Lexmark went through something similar, and then filed lawsuit against Static Control for making chips that would work with their software. They lost. HP is just making it harder, but the ink vendors will always find ways around it. They might even come up with their own firmware upgrades.

True...
In essence the fact that HP are blocking the use of non-OEM inks and toner cartridges is in the Technicians favour.
It makes the Tech's day a lot better if we are not criticise by the customer for their choice of generic brand ink and toner which damages their own machine. You can understand how a manufacture would want to keep their machines working in the best of light for the customer, because Word-of-mouth marketing takes over with resales of their products.

If a customer speaks bad about a machine because it continuously fails, because they're themselves are using non-OEM ink, then it gives the manufacturer a bad social image. You can understand how the manufacture would want to protect their product social image along with their corporate logo. From the consumer perspective though, it could also be seen as a corporate monopoly an in the interest of corporate greed. I can understand how any corporate monopoly fails in a court of law.

BUT!, the fact that HP(and some other brands) have go-as-you-please firmware access to information over printer networks is a bit on the doggy side. Corporate profit interest/monoploy or otherwise....

The truth of the real situation lies in data mining.
I wouldn't want my porn collection (kidding) or medical history arriving at my life insurance institute so they can increase my life insurance fees in line with my stolen medical records, and far far far worse than that.

[Iowatech]

Well, after the years of having to deal with "toner pirates" that used high pressure sales techniques to sell crap supplies to unaware customers, this is just something that they all will do now.