CRIMINAL COMPLAINT: French Gov. Targets HP for “Planned Obsolescence” of its Ink Cartridges.

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Criminal Complaint!
French Gov. Targets HP
for “Planned Obsolescence” of its Ink Cartridges.
The computer and printer manufacturer HP is the target of a criminal complaint in France, accused by the association Halte à l’obsolescence programmed (HOP) of implementing “planned obsolescence” of ink cartridges and printers.

According to the association, Stop Planned Obsolescence (HOP), at the origin of the complaint, HP is implementing several “opaque” strategies to reduce the lifespan of cartridges.

Prevent Reuse
The complaint was filed in Paris on Monday for “planned obsolescence of products by software” and “impeding the reconditioning and restoration of the functionalities of HP ink cartridges refilled or reconditioned outside its approved circuits”.

Remote blocking
According to the association, HP is implementing several “opaque” strategies to reduce the lifespan of cartridges. Firstly, it would remotely block, using a chip and software, cartridges which are not of the brand, but also HP cartridges which have been refilled by competitors, without “clearly” informing the customer and sometimes rendering them unusable. printers and scanners.

Then, HP would make “entire batches of cartridges obsolete under the pretext of updating”, which “would suggest a significant waste of resources and money”.

“Dishonest and harmful to the environment”
“HP strives for cartridges to be used only once. It’s dishonest for consumers and harmful for the environment,” denounces Flavie Vonderscher, advocacy manager at HOP. “HP takes the cartridges directly to the trash bin,” she laments. “Customers are held captive to ensure the company’s profit, but not all business practices are legal.”

Furthermore, based on decisions having sanctioned HP abroad (Italy, United States), HOP hopes for the opening of a preliminary investigation to put an end to these practices, and has posted a petition online.

Epson and Apple also targeted by preliminary investigations
Following complaints from HOP, two preliminary investigations are underway in France. One in Nanterre since 2017, targeting the Japanese manufacturer Epson for planned obsolescence and deception, suspected of blocking “printing on the pretext that the ink cartridges are empty while there is still ink remaining”.

The other in Paris since 2023 for deceptive commercial practices and planned obsolescence targeting the American smartphone giant Apple, accused of “restricting repairs for non-approved repairers or degrading a smartphone repaired with generic parts remotely”. In February 2020, Apple agreed to pay a fine of 25 million euros in France as part of a plea agreement to end prosecutions for deceptive commercial practices.

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November 26, 2024 at 5:10 PM