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Brother Denies Firmware Updates Cause Issues with Third-Party Ink.
Brother asserts that recent firmware updates have not degraded print quality or removed features from its printers. The company, known for its reliable laser printers that typically support third-party toner, responded to claims that it has started limiting functionality when non-Brother cartridges are used.A recent YouTube video by Louis Rossman, titled “Brother Turns Heel & Becomes Anti-Consumer Printer Company,” has sparked discussion, amassing over 163,000 views. The video references a 2022 Reddit post by user 20Factorial, who reported that firmware update W1.56 caused the automatic color registration feature on their Brother MFC-3750 to stop working with third-party cartridges.
According to the user, a Brother customer service representative confirmed that “the printer is non-functional without genuine toner.”
Rossman compiled reported issues on a Wiki page, highlighting claims that Brother printers print at a lower quality unless OEM toner is installed. He also pointed out that Brother printers update automatically when connected to the internet and do not offer users the option to roll back to previous firmware versions.
Brother, however, firmly denies these allegations.
In a statement to Ars Technica, the company said: “We are aware of the recent false claims suggesting that a Brother firmware update may have restricted the use of third-party ink cartridges. Please be assured that Brother firmware updates do not block the use of third-party ink in our machines.”The company further stated that it is “actively addressing the source of these false claims to ensure accurate information is available to our customers.”
Despite this, multiple Reddit users have reported issues with third-party toner.
One user described an error message appearing when installing a non-OEM cartridge, which they resolved by transferring the original Brother chip onto the third-party cartridge. Another user claimed this workaround stopped working after an unspecified update.Two years ago, another Redditor reported that their MFC-L3370CDW printer stopped printing and scanning after a firmware update when using third-party toner.
When asked for clarification, Brother reiterated:
“Firmware updates do not block the use of third-party compatibles. Brother printers do not intentionally degrade print quality based on whether a Brother Genuine or non-genuine ink/toner cartridge is used. However, we cannot verify the quality of prints when third-party supplies are used.”Brother suggested that the confusion may stem from its troubleshooting process:
“Brother encourages the use of Brother Genuine ink and toner for optimal performance and reliability. It is standard practice to perform a Brother Genuine check when troubleshooting a Brother printer. Since third-party supplies vary in quality, we verify printer functionality using Brother Genuine cartridges. This process may have led to misunderstandings, but we confirm that firmware updates do not cause degradation of quality or removal of printer features.”
The Bigger Picture
With most complaints originating from online posts, it’s difficult to verify whether firmware updates or user errors are to blame.Brother has built a reputation for being more consumer-friendly than other printer manufacturers, making it unlikely that the company would intentionally mislead customers. However, with the print industry shrinking and competitors leaning on proprietary ink sales to remain profitable, there is a financial incentive for Brother to encourage the use of its own cartridges.
If Brother were intentionally restricting third-party toner, it would be a significant shift in strategy, especially given the backlash other companies have faced for similar actions.
For now, there’s no conclusive proof that Brother is deliberately degrading printer performance with third-party ink. An Ars Technica staff member has successfully used v4ink-brand toner in their Brother HL-2270DW, though their printer does not receive automatic updates.
Until more concrete evidence emerges, users concerned about third-party toner compatibility may want to disable automatic firmware updates to maintain control over their devices.
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