HP settles lawsuit over ink-blocking printer update, with no payout or admission of wrongdoing

[midian182]

What just happened? A lawsuit against HP over a firmware update that prevented its printers from being compatible with non-HP ink and toner has had its settlement approved by a judge. However, HP doesn't have to admit to any wrongdoing or pay any customers affected by the 2020 update.

HP's November 2020 firmware update enabled, or re-enabled, the company's Dynamic Security system in some printer models. This detects non-HP ink or toner cartridges, even those that are fully functional and previously worked, blocking any that aren't using HP's security chip or circuitry.

HP claims Dynamic Security protects the printing experience, reduces counterfeit cartridges, and improves security. Everyone else says it's about making more money since HP sells printers at low margins while ink cartridges make up a lot of revenue for the firm. HP pretty much admitted this in 2023 when an executive boasted about how its ink subscription service was "locking" people in.

In December 2020, two companies filed a class-action suit against HP over the firmware update. The complaint said it essentially acted as malware – adding, deleting or altering code, diminishing the capabilities of HP printers, and rendering the competitors' supply cartridges incompatible with HP printers.

HP and the plaintiffs reached a settlement in August 2024. Under the terms, HP has agreed to pay $5,000 to the two companies that filed the complaint – Mobile Emergency Housing Corp and Performance Automotive & Tire Center. David Justin Lynch, who was added to the suit as a plaintiff, will also receive $5,000. HP says the payment is "to compensate them for the services they performed on behalf of the classes." HP will also pay $725,000 in attorneys' fees and expenses as part of the settlement, which was approved by Judge Susan Van Keulen last week.

However, HP doesn't have to admit that it did anything wrong, and it won't be handing over any money to those customers who were affected by the 2020 firmware update.

The settlement also means that users of certain HP LaserJet models – see the full list here – now have the option to decline firmware updates that include Dynamic Security, allowing them to continue using third-party ink. Those with printers on this list can remove Dynamic Security via a firmware update.

The restrictions will remain in place for most HP printers and may still be applied to some older models made after 2016 that aren't part of the settlement.

This is just one of several lawsuits HP has faced over Dynamic Security, including one in Italy where it was fined $12 million.

H/t: Ars Technica

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HP settles lawsuit over ink-blocking printer update, with no payout or admission of wrongdoing

 

[ScottSoapbox]

I have one of these printers and while I print so rarely OEM ink is inconsequential, I will never buy another HP again. Ever. It's the only way to stop companies from treating customers bad: stop buying their products.

 

[yRaz]

I have one of these printers and while I print so rarely OEM ink is inconsequential, I will never buy another HP again. Ever. It's the only way to stop companies from treating customers bad: stop buying their products.

Well it seems like Brother is doing this now, too. That means all 3(HP, Brother and Epson) are doing this print nonsense, so where are we going to go? There are no options left.

And it's not like anyone is buying this security update nonsense. "We're doing this for your safety." I've always been a big fan of personal accountability and taking care of my own security, I don't need a printer to baby me.

 

[sreams]

Well it seems like Brother is doing this now, too. That means all 3(HP, Brother and Epson) are doing this print nonsense, so where are we going to go? There are no options left.

And it's not like anyone is buying this security update nonsense. "We're doing this for your safety." I've always been a big fan of personal accountability and taking care of my own security, I don't need a printer to baby me.

Canon?

 

[The Talking Tech]

Well it seems like Brother is doing this now, too. That means all 3(HP, Brother and Epson) are doing this print nonsense, so where are we going to go? There are no options left.

And it's not like anyone is buying this security update nonsense. "We're doing this for your safety." I've always been a big fan of personal accountability and taking care of my own security, I don't need a printer to baby me.

Canon is not doing it...as we speak I'm printing with my very low cost 3rd party cartridges on a newer printer.

 

[The Talking Tech]

Say NO to HP products.

 

[Kirby1]

All of us techs tell all our customers not to use HP printers.

 

[yRaz]

Canon?

Canon is not doing it...as we speak I'm printing with my very low cost 3rd party cartridges on a newer printer.

I had forgotten about cannon, but that's mostly because I think of then in terms of photography first. well, let's hope that their system remains open for all of our sakes.

 

[Squid Surprise]

Well it seems like Brother is doing this now, too. That means all 3(HP, Brother and Epson) are doing this print nonsense, so where are we going to go? There are no options left.

And it's not like anyone is buying this security update nonsense. "We're doing this for your safety." I've always been a big fan of personal accountability and taking care of my own security, I don't need a printer to baby me.

Canon, Ricoh, Xerox, Toshiba, Kyocera?

 

[mgilbert]

Ethics matter. There are four companies I have not, and will not ever do business with - HP, Nvidia, Nintendo, and Apple. If more people had a spine and considered ethics when making purchases, we'd all be far better off.

 

[jsullivan]

I switched to an Epson EcoTank over a year ago for this very reason - even using third party ink cartridges didn't make sense for the cost per unit, and the reliability of non OEM cartridges was hit-or-miss.
While you pay more upfront for the EcoTank models, you can refill the tanks at your leisure and the cost per page is far less than with cartridges. Also, it's not as risky using third party refill ink bottles from Amazon. The print results have been beautiful and I don't feel like I'm wasting money when printing at higher quality or making draft prints to check on layout, design, etc. before creating the final version.
If only there were a way to switch to a "tank" model for laser printers, we'd be in business!

 

[3ogdy]

We gave up on HP printers for this very reason. Moved to an Epson WF, but to be honest, we print so little nowadays, that it makes more sense to just save the files on USB and take them to my local print shop.
Some cents later, I get my stuff printed. No more hassle with these stupid companies and their crap thrown down their customers' throats.

 

[p51d007]

Canon, Ricoh, Xerox, Toshiba, Kyocera?

Toshiba does it. I've worked on Toshiba MFP's for almost 40 years. Katun makes EXCELLENT compatible toner for some of these machines and last year they released a "security update" and guess what...all the katun cartridges quit working. Contacted Katun and they sent us a batch of crum chips which we switched out to make them work. A few months later Toshiba released another firmware update which we had to install to make papercut work properly with different card readers (paper cut is a management software). And they stopped working again. Katun sent out some new crum chips. It's a d*mn cat & mouse game!

 

[Squid Surprise]

Toshiba does it. I've worked on Toshiba MFP's for almost 40 years. Katun makes EXCELLENT compatible toner for some of these machines and last year they released a "security update" and guess what...all the katun cartridges quit working. Contacted Katun and they sent us a batch of crum chips which we switched out to make them work. A few months later Toshiba released another firmware update which we had to install to make papercut work properly with different card readers (paper cut is a management software). And they stopped working again. Katun sent out some new crum chips. It's a d*mn cat & mouse game!

At least Katun gives you chips… when you have HP, you’re stuck…

 

[Axiarus]

Switch to Brother.

 

[daffy duck]

This should never be an option allowed by the courts. Those that brought the suit should be ashamed of themselves for caving for personal interest.

HP are a disgrace, but the entire printer industry needs to be regulated more heavily as they are all trying this crap on.[

 

[ChipBoundary]

Well it seems like Brother is doing this now, too. That means all 3(HP, Brother and Epson) are doing this print nonsense, so where are we going to go? There are no options left.

And it's not like anyone is buying this security update nonsense. "We're doing this for your safety." I've always been a big fan of personal accountability and taking care of my own security, I don't need a printer to baby me.

Brother is not doing it and has never done it. The whole thing stemmed from a bogus reddit post about some nonsense issue a single user was having with a firmware update from 2022. A conspiracy theory sprouted from it and has been floating around since. They even spoke with several new outlets directly about the matter and have clarified that no such thing exists.

On a personal anecdotal note, I worked with a relatively new Brother printer last week and installed third party cartridges with no issues on the latest firmware update. Now keep in mind, I installed them under protest. After decades of supporting printers, I have never once found a single third party cartridge that was worth the money, even though they are significantly cheaper. Regardless of printer or cartridge brand.

 

[Northy]

After decades of supporting printers, I have never once found a single third party cartridge that was worth the money, even though they are significantly cheaper. Regardless of printer or cartridge brand.

Genuine HP Enterprise toner cartridges are ~$1100 for a set here in Australia, generic ones are ~$400.

They print prints as expected, the only downside being toner level detection doesn't work on the printer, you just see it's getting low due to colour fade and swap one in when needed... which actually beats being hounded constantly and having to acknowledge the toner is running low with genuine cartridges.

We live in different realities.

 

[Brickwizard]

Too late for me, I took both my HP printers to the tip 3 months ago.

 

[FaTaL]

They're doing this because...surprise,surprise...no one rarely prints sht anymore.
I might print 2 documents a year...and they're for taxes.

 

[Squid Surprise]

They're doing this because...surprise,surprise...no one rarely prints sht anymore.
I might print 2 documents a year...and they're for taxes.

Offices still print tons… it’s just personal users who don’t.

 

[RaXelliX]

Switch to Brother.

That aged like milk...

 

[Hotlynx16]

Brother is not doing it and has never done it. The whole thing stemmed from a bogus reddit post about some nonsense issue a single user was having with a firmware update from 2022. A conspiracy theory sprouted from it and has been floating around since. They even spoke with several new outlets directly about the matter and have clarified that no such thing exists.

On a personal anecdotal note, I worked with a relatively new Brother printer last week and installed third party cartridges with no issues on the latest firmware update. Now keep in mind, I installed them under protest. After decades of supporting printers, I have never once found a single third party cartridge that was worth the money, even though they are significantly cheaper. Regardless of printer or cartridge brand.

I have a Canon inkjet and will never use HP again (in the 90's I had one)Tried third party in my previous HP's and it was a disaster! The generic canon's are not that much cheaper! I have had good luck in buying Genuine Canon on Ebay for better prices than Walmart!!

 

[dmatheson]

Ethics matter. There are four companies I have not, and will not ever do business with - HP, Nvidia, Nintendo, and Apple. If more people had a spine and considered ethics when making purchases, we'd all be far better off.

This is a shortcoming in consumer protection, not consumer backbone. These companies hold too much power, and consumers too little to expect that. That's what the big companies want. They want consumers to take the blame and feel bad so they won't be regulated to stop bad behavior. Don't buy into their story! It really isn't you; it's them.

 

[dmatheson]

This is a shortcoming in consumer protection, not consumer backbone. These companies hold too much power, and consumers too little to expect that. That's what the big companies want. They want consumers to take the blame and feel bad so they won't be regulated to stop bad behavior. Don't buy into their story! It really isn't you; it's them.

And just to go ahead and counter another argument against regulation. If everyone is playing by the same rules, a company can do the right thing without taking a huge hit. I think many companies want to do the right thing; they're just too dumb to understand that if it's not required, they can't do it because someone(s) in the cabal will always opt out of good behavior. It's just natural human behavior; if everyone is behaving unethically, it's much harder for you to swim against that current. I think it's so dumb for companies to fight regulation, which actually allows them to be the "good guys".