HP reaps lawsuits sowing problems...

hp

HP continues its unnecessary war against its clientele

That's right, dear readers, many of you will know what I'm talking about with the title, as I mentioned in past articles. on the topic of HP with cartridge lock, the lawsuits are coming and HP has reaped what it sowed.

To put in context those who are still unaware of the case or are only aware of the latest information. HP was caught up in a wave of criticism and complaints for several weeks now, since the manufacturer went to "the trouble" to break into customer equipment through the remote application of updates that have the effector prevent printers from working if they are not equipped with approved ink cartridges. 

This "small" detail, which is the tip of the iceberg, has become what will possibly be one of the many problems that HP will face on the issue of its printers, which are at the center of an environmental controversy and ethics.

Those who are customers or have an HP printer should know that this markets dozens of its printers with Dynamic Security and HP+ with the EPEAT label (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool), which means that the company talks about its ecological responsibility and ensures that it does not block third-party ink cartridges in these products.

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), is an environmental assessment tool for electronic products. It allows buyers (governments, institutions, consumers, etc.) to evaluate, compare and select electronic products based on their environmental characteristics. EPEAT was created and is managed by the Global Electronics Council (GEC), a program of the International Foundation for Sustainable Development (ISDF), a non-profit organization that "envisions a world where commerce, communities and nature thrive." in harmony".

This issue has been put on the table, since as such HP of violates EPEAT criteria by doing exactly what the company says it is not doing. The Imaging Technology Council (IITC) group that has accused HP, mentions that these practices deceive consumers, harm remanufacturers and increase waste and carbon emissions. IITC asks the GEC, which issues the EPEAT label, to remove HP printers from the EPEAT register and inform buyers of the facts.

HP printers have received much criticism for invasive firmware updates that prevent customers from using ink with their printers. HP also encourages printer customers to sign up for HP+, a cloud-based program that includes a free trial subscription to Hp Instant Ink and irreversible firmware that allows HP to lock ink when it sees fit.

Going deeper, the complaint of the IITC claims that “in the last 8 weeks alone, HP has released 4 killer firmware updates targeting dozens of EPEAT-registered inkjet printers.” “At least one of these recent updates specifically targeted a single producer of remanufactured cartridges without affecting non-remanufactured third-party cartridges that use functionally identical non-HP chips,” the complaint states.

The trade group also claimed that there have been at least 26 "killer firmware updates" on EPEAT-registered HP laser printers since October 2020.

The complaint states that the error message users see*:

"The specified cartridges have been blocked by the printer firmware because they contain non-HP chips." This printer is designed to work only with new or reused cartridges with a new or reused HP chip. Please replace the indicated cartridges to continue printing.” This is against EPEAT requirements, but HP markets dozens of Dynamic Security printers with EPEAT ecolabels.

IITC highlights many places where HP claims EPEAT registration while apparently contradicting the terms of the registration.

For example, the IITC shared EPEAT documentation stating that "HP printers are not designed to prevent the use of non-HP cartridges and containers." Meanwhile, HP's Dynamic Security website states that "Printers equipped with Dynamic Security are designed to work only with cartridges that have new or reused HP chips or electronic circuitry. Printers use dynamic security measures to lock cartridges that use non-HP chips or non-HP or modified electronic circuitry.

The complaint also targets the HP+ program, what HP describes as an "integrated HP system that requires an Internet connection and works only with Original HP ink or toner cartridges" and gives customers benefits like a six-month trial of HP Instant Ink and a "connected cloud that automatically detects and fixes connectivity issues.”

But it is in the part of "only works with original HP ink or toner cartridges" that the complaint insists.

Source: https://i-itc.org/


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