HP is blocking third-party printer ink again:

https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/11/2...namic-security

A well-known computer brand has disabled the printers of customers using ink cartridges from rival companies.

Hewlett-Packard, or HP, has sparked fury after issuing a recent “firmware” update which blocks customers from using cheaper, non-HP ink cartridges in its printers.

Customers’ devices were remotely updated in line with new terms which mean their printers will not work unless they are fitted with approved ink cartridges.

It prevents customers from using any cartridges other than those fitted with an HP chip, which are often more expensive. If the customer tries to use a non-HP ink cartridge, the printer will refuse to print.

HP printers used to display a warning when a “third-party” ink cartridge was inserted, but now printers will simply refuse to print altogether.

A spokesman for HP said printers using “dynamic security” are labelled as such on its product packaging, technical materials, and various online materials.

They said that only some of its printers are equipped with dynamic security measures, though it did not specify which ones. According to its website, all HP standard printers will block cartridges using a non-HP chip or circuitry.

The HP spokesman added that some third-party cartridges reuse the HP chip or electronic circuitry and those that do will function as normal.

Some customers can choose to disable HP’s cartridge-blocking feature in the printer’s settings, HP said, but it depends on the printer model. Others will be stuck with a printer that only works if they commit to spending more on ink cartridges approved by HP.

On my to-buy-list is an inkjet printer for printing white decals (model building). Since that requires special ink, I can not use a HP printer? Really?

Have been a happy HP user for decades and always praised them high and wide. End of that...

Would be ok with a warning about using non-HP ink, but beyond that, they shouldn't care.


Btw. not sure they're not breaking the law here, but didn't EU have something going with this issue?

i use a epson eco-print , now it took me a bit to find the driver on the epson web site but it runs just fine

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HP have been doing this unofficially for a long time. That's why I don't use their printers any more.

Epson eco print, check!

Had a look on Epson's site and find nice pricing on both printer and ink. As I read it, I can buy an extra tank and fill it with whatever colour I want?

Thanks for the heads-up!

one way around this is to never allow your printers to have outside (internet) access. If this is being put onto their new printers, than 100% agree avoid like the plague.

If you have an existing printer, do not give it internet access, or flat out block hp.com and all of its subdomains by using something along the line or a Pi-Hole.

This is an older story, but still sad to see HP going down this path of raw greed.

I have two 'networks' at my house. The internet network, and the home network. Printers and data servers are on the home network. Desktops are on both networks (two hardwire ethernet connections).

That said, my printers are Brother and both are working well. A B/W Laser printer and a Investment Tank printer. I never had much luck with HP. Epson was ok though.

Yes, as much as possible avoid HP.

Funny to hear the comments.I imagine it's the cheaper inkjets and connected printers that have issues. My HP Laserjet MFP130 is on the router. I use it with linux and my son uses it with windows 10. Both of us address the internal IP. No drivers. No trouble. It does have internet access, but doesn't bother. I believe it's possible to print from my phone. My son has from his.

It doesn't even have the laserjet version of whatever firmware tells a cartridge it's empty. I have bought about one cartridge a year, and they're cheap, not original. The cartridges are empty when they run out of toner. I decide to buy new, not the printer.

Don't buy the cheap HP printers. They definitely are not worth it. Get a more expensive one, and they're fine. If it was usb connected to my son's pc, that

That said, I have no time for what they are up to and hope they are pubished severely for it.

I suppose if they charge a proper market price for the printer, they don't need to sell ink/toner cartridges at exorbitant prices to make a profit. It's a different market model.

Yeah. I did have a cheapo version (HPLJ1102w @ €55 or so), but the HP cartridge was €80! Is was a #£#$%€&! nightmare to get a wifi IP into (requiring M$ windows). Then the drum went and I was faced with a €130 bill for a €50 printer? I bought the MFR_M130 printer/scanner/fax. The fax is an obsolete joke; the scanner died after a year; but the printer still works.

Both of my (mono) laser printers are/were cartridge agnostic, but they printed via wifi. They didn't care. If you had usb connections to m$ windows, then you'd need a driver and be knee deep in the brown odourous substance all right. Then you'd have it updating itself to make sure it's knackered

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/...-group-demands
No comment needed.

As I understand it you pay for the printer one way or another. I've seen the (Epson, I think) inkjet printers mentioned and they're not cheap but they do the job. Laser printers can be cheap but, then, the toner will be expensive. OK, I work for a printer company but as far as I can see the "cost" of a printer is worked out by either initial cost or cost of consumables - and you, as a consumer, get to pick.
I'm not going to suggest that a $50 ink jet or laser printer is sold at a loss but, really, I can't see much profit in that.

Personally, I view inkjet printers as 'joke' printers, with respects to everybody who sees them as a viable option. It's not that I print huge amounts. My son runs off a fair number of pages with guitar chords & words of various songs he wants to pick up, and uses them as a starting point. I print modestly. But the luxury of going about a year between refills is great. While I thought of it, I bought next year's toner for under €16. It's on it's way by slow boat from Poland. An ink cartridge refill would probably cost you that. And would you get a year out of it?

Inkjets are good for what they were invented for - good photographs.
For printing black and white documents and only every so often laser is the way.