HP printers have won a large number of flak traditionally and just lately for invasive firmware updates that finally end up fighting shoppers from the usage of ink with their printers. HP additionally encourages printer shoppers to enroll in HP+, a program that features a unfastened ink-subscription trial and irremovable firmware that permits HP to brick the ink when it sees are compatible.
In spite of this, HP markets dozens of its printers with Dynamic Safety and the not obligatory HP+ characteristic as being within the Digital Product Environmental Evaluation Software (EPEAT) registry, suggesting that those printers are constructed with the surroundings in thoughts and, extra in particular, don’t block third-party ink cartridges. Bearing in mind Dynamic Safety and HP+ printers do just that, the World Imaging Era Council (IITC) needs the Basic Electronics Council (GEC), which is in command of the EPEAT registry, to revoke a minimum of 101 HP printer fashions from the EPEAT registry, which HP has “made a mockery of.”
Ahead of we get into the IITC grievance despatched Would possibly 22 to GEC Senior Supervisor Katherine Larocque, we must notice the IITC’s evident stakes on this. The nonprofit industry affiliation used to be based in 2000 and says it represents “toner and inkjet cartridge remanufacturers, part providers, and cartridge creditors in North The usa.” So its participants stand to lose some huge cash from ways like Dynamic Safety. The IITC already filed a grievance to the GEC about HP in 2019 for firmware blocking off non-HP ink, however there did not appear to be any noticeable effects.
The crowd is biased relating to this matter, however its grievance nonetheless mirrors many issues and considerations that buyers and class-action complaints have detailed relating to HP printers’ unique stance on ink. You’ll be able to to find the whole grievance right here.
“Killer firmware updates”
For a printer to make the EPEAT registry, it is meant to conform to the EPEAT Imaging Apparatus Class Standards, which is in line with the 1680.2-2012 IEEE Usual for Environmental Evaluation of Imaging Apparatus (PDF). The IITC is hung up on phase 4.9.2.1, which calls for that registered merchandise don’t “save you using nonmanufacturer cartridges and non-manufacturer boxes” and that distributors supply documentation appearing that the tool is not “designed to stop using a non-manufacturer cartridge or non-manufacturer container.”
Neatly, because the IITC and customers who discovered their inked bricked mid-print will let you know, that sounds an terrible lot like what HP does with its Dynamic Safety printers.
Diving deeper, the IITC’s grievance claims that “within the ultimate 8 weeks on my own, HP has launched 4 killer firmware updates concentrated on dozens of EPEAT-registered inkjet printers.”
“No less than this type of fresh updates in particular centered a unmarried manufacturer of remanufactured cartridges without having any have an effect on on non-remanufactured third-party cartridges the usage of functionally equivalent non-HP chips,” the grievance reads.
The industry staff additionally claimed a minimum of 26 “killer firmware updates” took place on EPEAT-registered HP laser printers since October 2020.
The grievance argues that the mistake message that customers see—”The indicated cartridges were blocked by means of the printer firmware as a result of they comprise non-HP chips. This printer is meant to paintings handiest with new or reused cartridges that experience a brand new or reused HP chip. Change the indicated cartridges to proceed printing”—move towards EPEAT necessities, but HP markets dozens of Dynamic Safety printers with EPEAT ecolabels.
Wordplay
The IITC’s grievance highlights a large number of puts the place HP claims EPEAT registration whilst reputedly contradicting the registry’s phrases.
As an example, it shared a EPEAT documentation (PDF) mentioning, “HP printers aren’t designed to stop using non-manufacturer cartridges and non-manufacturer boxes.” In the meantime, HP’s Dynamic Safety web page says, “Dynamic Safety supplied printers are meant to paintings handiest with cartridges that experience new or reused HP chips or digital circuitry. The printers use the dynamic security features to dam cartridges the usage of non-HP chips or changed or non-HP digital circuitry.”
“Possibly it’s HP’s place that 4.9.2.1 permits it to dam any non-manufacturer cartridge that doesn’t use an HP chip. Irrespective of whether or not HP cites ‘safety considerations’ or another excuse, 4.9.2.1 gives no such leeway. The language of four.9.2.1 is unequivocal and unqualified,” the IITC’s grievance says.
Dynamic Safety printers get periodic firmware updates that HP claims “can give a boost to, strengthen, or prolong the printer’s capability and lines, offer protection to towards safety threats, and serve different functions” but additionally “block cartridges the usage of a non-HP chip or changed or non-HP circuitry from operating within the printer, together with cartridges that paintings as of late.” Now and again the ones cartridges are over 90 % complete, in line with the IITC, which fails to peer the place the “safety” in “Dynamic Safety” is available in:
Actually, Dynamic Safety has not anything in any respect to do with safety, and the entirety to do with irritating customers who select non-HP cartridges so as to give a boost to gross sales of authentic HP cartridges.
