[German]Manufacturer HP manages to annoy consumers again and again with its lockouts of printers when using third-party ink or toner. It has now even blocked its own printer cartridges for use. Now the consumer protection organization Euroconsumers has reached a settlement with HP over "dynamic security." HP will pay compensation of up to 1.3 million euros.
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Euroconsumers vs. "Dynamic Security
HP has often blocked third-party cartridges on its inkjet printers – sometimes months after installing a firmware update. The whole thing goes under the euphemistic term "dynamic security". Customers who install third-party cartridges in the printers find that the devices no longer work. The term "Printergate" has been coined as a result – and there are a number of posts on this topic here on the blog (see links at the end of the article).
Recently HP points out it's restrictions
The third-party cartridge lockout implemented by firmware updates was not communicated by HP on device packaging or in advertisements. Lawsuits in Italy and the USA therefore led to compensation payments from HP to printer buyers. In the meantime, HP has learned and states on every printer box, sales brochure and also with the firmware update, what exactly is planned in terms of consumables. There is information about the use of cheap third-party materials, which can and will be blocked. However, I assume that the buyers do not read through this "small print" and are not aware of the consequences. Is confirmed to me again and again by user comments here on the blog.
Euroconsumers filed a lawsuit in 2021
Euroconsumer is a private organization for consumer protection in several European countries. The organization had asked HP to pay up to 150 euros in compensation per device affected by "Printergate" to consumers in the relevant EU countries and had already filed a lawsuit in 2021. As of September 7, 2022, there were innovations, which Euroconsumer publishes on its website in the article HP and Euroconsumers settle on Dynamic Security.
The consumer protection organization "Euroconsumers" has reached an out-of-court settlement with HP regarding the blocking of printer cartridges under "Dynamic Security" with compensation.
Dynamic Security is a technology HP uses in certain printers that it says is designed to protect the quality of the customer experience, maintain the integrity of printing systems and protect HP's intellectual property. HP printer cartridges are equipped with chips to be recognized and accepted by the devices. Ultimately, the technology is used to block third-party printer cartridges into HP devices with Dynamic Security.
Euroconsumers says that consumers were not properly informed that Dynamic Security causes printers to reject certain non-HP replacement ink cartridges equipped with non-genuine chips or electronic circuitry.
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In the settlement reached, Euroconsumers and HP have now agreed that the two parties will take no further legal action. According to the statement, "The agreement cannot be seen as an admission of fault or misconduct by HP, nor an acknowledgement that Euroconsumers' claims are unfounded. Rather, it is a sign of both parties' commitment to working for the good of consumers."
Details of the settlement
Under the settlement, HP has agreed to establish a fund of up to $1.350 million to compensate HP printer owners with Dynamic Security. Consumers in Belgium, Italy, Spain and Portugal are eligible to receive compensation from the fund if they owned or have owned any of the following HP printer models between Sept. 1, 2016, and Nov. 17, 2020.
- HP Officejet Pro 6230
- HP Officejet Pro 6830
- HP Officejet Pro 6835
- HP Officejet Pro 8610
- HP Officejet Pro 8615
- HP Officejet Pro 8620
- HP Officejet Pro 8630
- HP Officejet Pro X476dn
- HP Officejet Pro X576dw
- HP Officejet Pro X451dn
- HP Officejet Pro X451dw
- HP Officejet Pro X551dw
- HP OfficeJet 6950
- HP OfficeJet 6951
- HP OfficeJet Pro 6960
According to German site Druckerchannel, the compensation is 20, 35 or 50 euros, depending on the printer model. Consumers in Belgium, Italy, Spain and Portugal can find even more details about the refund and the declarations to be made in this PDF document (basically, that one did not know about the blocking of the printer cartridges, was surprised by this measure when using third-party cartridges and thus suffered damage that has not yet been compensated). The claim for compensation must be made between September 7, 2022 and March 6, 2023. Well, does not affect any customer in the German-speaking region (DACH) now, but it is another brick where HP looked old.
HP locks own cartriges
The issue has been here for a few days, as blog reader Frank pointed out a new volte-face from HP in this German comment. He says: What I find even more cheeky is that HP now also blocks its own original cartridges if they are too old according to HP. There is an expiration date on the cartridge for this, which you quickly reach if you order stock in a company. In my case, an Officejet Pro 8718.
This causes original HP cartridges to be blocked in the printer when they reach an expiration date printed on the cartridge. Frank was affected on an Officejet Pro 8718 because he had stock ordered printer cartridges. Toner-Dumping had published some details about the blocking of original cartridges from Pagewide printers in this German blog post.
German blog reader Hansi has left this German comment pointing out that the HP texts on packaging or sales information for buying a new device are misleading/misleading. Regardless of that, the whole thing is not only a hassle for the consumer including distortion of competition (against third-party suppliers of consumables), but also an environmental mess (packaging waste, discarded devices). The dodges through firmware and driver updates, with the purpose of blocking devices and consumables, can only be prevented by consumers by not buying. I therefore blacklisted HP more than a decade ago.
Similar article:
HP printer firmware disables refill ink cartridges
HP apologizes, new firmware update for printers soon
HP: New printer firmware re-enables refill ink cartridges
Firmware Update blocks again non HP Printer Cartridges
Is a HP Firmware Update blocking again Third Party Ink Cartridges?
Does HP blocks 3rd party ink cartridges again on its printers (Jan. 2019)?
HP firmware update for ink/laser printers blocks third-party cartridges (Nov. 2020)
Hints for HP Printer Firmware Downgrade
HP CEO on inkjet printers and third-party cartridges
Take care: HP Instant Ink
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