HP printers have obtained a whole lot of flak traditionally and not too long ago for invasive firmware updates that find yourself stopping clients from utilizing ink with their printers. HP additionally encourages printer clients to enroll in HP+, a program that features a free ink-subscription trial and irremovable firmware that enables HP to brick the ink when it sees match.

Regardless of this, HP markets dozens of its printers with Dynamic Safety and the optionally available HP+ function as being within the Digital Product Environmental Evaluation Device (EPEAT) registry, suggesting that these printers are constructed with the surroundings in thoughts and, extra particularly, don’t block third-party ink cartridges. Contemplating Dynamic Safety and HP+ printers do precisely that, the Worldwide Imaging Expertise Council (IITC) desires the Basic Electronics Council (GEC), which is answerable for the EPEAT registry, to revoke not less than 101 HP printer fashions from the EPEAT registry, which HP has “made a mockery of.”

Earlier than we get into the IITC criticism despatched Might 22 to  GEC Senior Supervisor Katherine Larocque, we must always be aware the IITC’s apparent stakes on this. The nonprofit commerce affiliation was based in 2000 and says it represents “toner and inkjet cartridge remanufacturers, element suppliers, and cartridge collectors in North America.” So its members stand to lose some huge cash from techniques like Dynamic Safety. The IITC already filed a criticism to the GEC about HP in 2019 for firmware blocking non-HP ink, however there did not appear to be any noticeable outcomes.

The group is biased concerning this matter, however its criticism nonetheless mirrors many issues and issues that buyers and class-action lawsuits have detailed concerning HP printers’ unique stance on ink. You could find the complete criticism right here.

“Killer firmware updates”

For a printer to make the EPEAT registry, it is alleged to adjust to the EPEAT Imaging Tools Class Standards, which is predicated on the 1680.2-2012 IEEE Commonplace for Environmental Evaluation of Imaging Tools (PDF). The IITC is hung up on part 4.9.2.1, which requires that registered merchandise don’t “forestall the usage of nonmanufacturer cartridges and non-manufacturer containers” and that distributors present documentation displaying that the machine is not “designed to stop the usage of a non-manufacturer cartridge or non-manufacturer container.”

Effectively, because the IITC and shoppers 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 criticism claims that “within the final 8 weeks alone, HP has launched 4 killer firmware updates focusing on dozens of EPEAT-registered inkjet printers.”

“At the least considered one of these current updates particularly focused a single producer of remanufactured cartridges without having any affect on non-remanufactured third-party cartridges utilizing functionally similar non-HP chips,” the criticism reads.

The commerce group additionally claimed not less than 26 “killer firmware updates” occurred on EPEAT-registered HP laser printers since October 2020.

The criticism argues that the error message that customers see—”The indicated cartridges have been blocked by the printer firmware as a result of they include non-HP chips. This printer is meant to work solely with new or reused cartridges which have a brand new or reused HP chip. Exchange the indicated cartridges to proceed printing”—go towards EPEAT necessities, but HP markets dozens of Dynamic Safety printers with EPEAT ecolabels.

Wordplay

The IITC’s criticism highlights quite a few locations the place HP claims EPEAT registration whereas seemingly contradicting the registry’s phrases.

For instance, it shared a EPEAT documentation (PDF) stating, “HP printers aren’t designed to stop the usage of non-manufacturer cartridges and non-manufacturer containers.” In the meantime, HP’s Dynamic Safety web site says, “Dynamic Safety geared up printers are supposed to work solely with cartridges which have new or reused HP chips or digital circuitry. The printers use the dynamic safety measures to dam cartridges utilizing non-HP chips or modified or non-HP digital circuitry.”

“Maybe 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. No matter whether or not HP cites ‘safety issues’ or another excuse, 4.9.2.1 affords no such leeway. The language of 4.9.2.1 is unequivocal and unqualified,” the IITC’s criticism says.

Dynamic Safety printers get periodic firmware updates that HP claims “can enhance, improve, or lengthen the printer’s performance and options, shield towards safety threats, and serve different functions” but in addition “block cartridges utilizing a non-HP chip or modified or non-HP circuitry from working within the printer, together with cartridges that work right now.” Generally these cartridges are over 90 % full, in keeping with the IITC, which fails to see the place the “safety” in “Dynamic Safety” is available in:

The reality is, Dynamic Safety has nothing in any respect to do with safety, and every little thing to do with irritating shoppers who select non-HP cartridges in an effort to enhance gross sales of real HP cartridges.