Updates on HP Printers
Nathan Edwards (2023, via Nick Heer):
It was fine until my yellow ink cartridge (allegedly) ran out, and the printer stopped printing in color. I soldiered on with the black cartridge. Until one day I tried to print a return label (in black and white!) and the printer decided it wouldn’t. Not until I replaced the yellow ink cartridge. Fine. I paid 207 goddamn dollars for replacement cartridges, put them in, and discovered that HP region-locks its printers.
[…]
The genuine HP ink cartridges, for which I paid as much as I paid for the actual printer, would not work with the printer they were designed to work with because I bought it in a different part of the world. It wasn’t even a cheaper part of the world unless we’re talking healthcare or midcentury furniture.
[…]
Now, I realize this is an edge case. Most people don’t move across the world and bring a printer with them. But region-locking is only one of many ways printer companies use DRM to squeeze money out of their customers, and if you have an inkjet printer you might have already run into one of them.
Charlotte Gifford (2023, via Hacker News):
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.
[…]
The printer company said it issued the update to reduce the risk of malware attacks, saying “third-party cartridges that use non-HP chips or circuitry can pose risks to the hardware performance, print quality, and security.”
Scharon Harding (Hacker News):
In a new form of frustration, HP is now being accused of issuing a firmware update that broke customers’ laser printers—even though the devices are loaded with HP-brand toner.
The firmware update in question is version 20250209, which HP issued on March 4 for its LaserJet MFP M232-M237 models. Per HP, the update includes “security updates,” a “regulatory requirement update,” “general improvements and bug fixes,” and fixes for IPP Everywhere. Looking back to older updates’ fixes and changes, which the new update includes, doesn’t reveal anything out of the ordinary. The older updates mention things like “fixed print quality to ensure borders are not cropped for certain document types,” and “improved firmware update and cartridge rejection experiences.” But there’s no mention of changes to how the printers use or read toner.
However, users have been reporting sudden problems using HP-brand toner in their M232–M237 series printers since their devices updated to 20250209. Users on HP’s support forum say they see Error Code 11 and the hardware’s toner light flashing when trying to print. Some said they’ve cleaned the contacts and reinstalled their toner but still can’t print.
Scharon Harding (Hacker News):
In December 2020, Mobile Emergency Housing Corp. and a company called Performance Automotive & Tire Center filed a class-action complaint against HP [PDF], alleging that the company “wrongfully compels users of its printers to buy and use only HP ink and toner supplies by transmitting firmware updates without authorization to HP printers over the Internet that lock out its competitors’ ink and toner supply cartridges.” The complaint centered on a firmware update issued in November 2020; it sought a court ruling that HP’s actions broke the law, an injunction against the firmware updates, and monetary and punitive damages.
[…]
After years of litigation, in August 2024, HP and the plaintiffs reached a settlement agreement that Judge Susan Van Keulen approved on Tuesday [PDF].
Under the settlement agreement, HP doesn’t admit to any wrongdoing. It also won’t pay any monetary relief to customers impacted by the November 2020 firmware update.
Previously:
- Brother Denies Blocking Third-Party Toner
- HP Discontinues Online-Only LaserJet Printers
- HP All-In Plan
- Just Get a Brother
- HP Printer Driver Certificate Revoked
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My rule is: do not ever get a printer that uses cartridges, only those that use bottled ink or toner.
HP, and DRM, are evil.
I still have a LaserJet Pro MFP M125NW. It still works great, except that drivers are no longer available for macOS because reasons, and Apple don't care either. HP now foists their "HP Smart" app through the MAS, which is great in every respect except that it requires you to sign in so you can use their online services, which are no longer compatible with the printer despite the latest 2020 firmware being installed, so the only way to get it working again is to reset the printer. The only option remaining for using it at all on macOS is therefore to stick with AirPrint for printing, and VueScan for scanning. This is obviously all fine and dandy and doesn't represent a ghastly and pointless assault on mother earth.
It's time for open hardware open source printers.
Basically, the Arduino of printers. Enough of this shit from all of the major printer manufacturers.
Keep it up the hard work of giving everyone even more excuses to avoid owning a printer, HP.
I agree with the open hardware - who's got a contact at Framework?
Framework: "Printers are the only category that's worse than phones."
via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os_fHy1mB_M&t=565s
Get a color laser printer targeted at small to medium businesses, and you'll be good for at least the next decade.
