HP rolls out new update that disables your printer if you use cheap cartridges

Users are just finding out that their printers won't work if they try to save money

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Printer giant HP has rolled out a new firmware update that will disable your printer if you try to use cheap ink cartridges, rather than official HP products.

Cheaper third-party ink cartridges can cost half the price of own-brand replacements, reports The Telegraph. The update first began being released in March and users are discovering the change now they are trying to install cheap cartridges.

HP says it has changed its rules "to maintain the integrity of our printing systems, and protect our intellectual property."

The update affects any device that uses 'dynamic security'. An HP spokesman said: "Dynamic security equipped printers are intended to work only with cartridges that have new or reused HP chips or electronic circuitry. The printers use the dynamic security measures to block cartridges using non-HP chips or modified or non-HP electronic circuitry."

One HP user, named Joe, took to the HP site to complain, writing: "Hi, we just bought an ISY brand (non-HP) ink cartridge for our HP 6950 inkjet. The printer is refusing to print with a non-HP cartridge installed. I cannot believe that it's legal for you to do this, and I'm assuming this is a mistake."

Another user said he "felt like throwing the printer out the window" after the change.

Last year the company paid £1million to consumers in Belgium, Italy, Spain and Portugal who bought printers not knowing they were equipped with cartridge-blocking software. It has also faced action across Europe, in Australia and in the USA.

Dynamic security in printers refers to a feature implemented by manufacturers to protect their devices from the use of unauthorized or counterfeit ink or toner cartridges. It is primarily designed to ensure the quality and reliability of printing, as well as to prevent potential damage to the printer caused by incompatible cartridges.

Dynamic security involves the use of firmware or software that communicates with the printer and verifies the authenticity of the ink or toner cartridge being used. The printer checks for a digital signature or a specific code embedded in the cartridge, which indicates that it is a genuine product from the manufacturer.

If an unauthorized or counterfeit cartridge is detected, the printer may display an error message or refuse to print until a genuine cartridge is installed. This security measure aims to protect consumers from using inferior quality or potentially harmful cartridges and to maintain the printer's performance and reliability.

However, the implementation of dynamic security has been a subject of controversy and criticism. Some users argue that it limits consumer choice and forces them to purchase more expensive genuine cartridges from the printer manufacturer. Critics also suggest that it may be an anti-competitive practice aimed at monopolizing the printer supplies market. As a result, there have been legal and regulatory challenges regarding the use of dynamic security in printers.

Not all HP printers have dynamic security enabled. The feature is typically found in certain inkjet printers and laser printers. HP provides information on their website and packaging to indicate which printers have dynamic security enabled.