HP Again Uses Firmware to Block Third-Party Ink Cartridges, Will It Ever Stop?

toner · 2025-05-27T15:26:52-04:00

HP Inc. is once again making headlines — not for product innovation, but for its increasingly aggressive strategy to block third-party ink cartridges via firmware updates. The latest rollout of its Dynamic Security mechanism has rendered numerous compatible ink cartridges unusable across popular printer lines, triggering renewed criticism from consumers, legal observers, and regulators alike. (Tonernews.com would like to thank our friends below at Spravnytoner.cz/ for this info) As global scrutiny mounts, questions are being raised not just about consumer rights, but about the long-term sustainability — and legality — of HP’s ink-first business model. Ink: The $5 Billion Strategy HP’s printing business generates billions annually, but it’s not the printers that bring in the cash — it’s the ink. According to HP’s 2023 annual report, supplies revenue accounted for approximately 60% of the company's total printing segment revenue. That stream depends heavily on customers purchasing HP-branded cartridges, which often retail at a steep markup compared to third-party alternatives. By using firmware updates to block non-HP ink, the company reinforces a controlled ecosystem designed to protect its high-margin supplies business. But critics argue the tactic blurs the line between competitive strategy and monopolistic behavior. The Latest Firmware Fallout The most recent firmware updates have affected a wide range of printers, particularly in the OfficeJet Pro 69xx, 77xx, and 87xx series, as well as select HP Envy models. Cartridges impacted include: HP 903 / 903XL HP 902 / 902XL HP 953 / 953XL HP 963 / 963XL HP 934 / 935 HP 912 / 912XL Distributors across Central Europe have reported widespread customer frustration and increased returns, as previously functional cartridges are now being rejected as “incompatible.” While HP frames these updates as security enhancements to “protect the customer experience,” the practical impact has been to funnel consumers back toward HP’s proprietary consumables — often without prior notice. The Legal and Reputational Risks This is charted territory for HP. The company has already settled multiple lawsuits related to Dynamic Security, including a €10 million payout in Europe in 2020 and additional class action settlements in the United States. Yet, HP continues to rely on these updates as a key lever in its consumable’s strategy. The risk? Regulatory scrutiny is sharpening, particularly in jurisdictions like the EU, where new digital product directives and “right to repair” laws are reshaping how companies can use software to restrict hardware functionality. In the U.S., HP may soon find itself in the crosshairs of antitrust watchdogs, especially if class actions continue to allege anti-competitive behavior. Legal experts warn that continued firmware-based exclusions could be interpreted as a form of market manipulation — particularly if consumers are not properly informed. Balancing Margin Protection with Consumer Backlash From a corporate strategy standpoint, HP’s approach is not without logic. It protects a critical revenue stream and preserves quality control — a key argument HP makes when defending its chip-enabled cartridges. However, the consumer trust cost is steep, and brand sentiment around HP printers has declined notably in recent quarters, according to consumer survey platforms like Trustpilot and Reddit user data. This tug-of-war between revenue preservation and customer satisfaction isn’t new in the tech industry — Apple’s battery throttling scandal and John Deere’s software lockouts come to mind — but HP’s recurring reliance on firmware as a control tool is becoming increasingly controversial. What’s Next for HP? As competition from lower-cost printer brands and refillable ink systems (like Epson’s EcoTank) intensifies, HP may need to revisit its approach to customer retention. Lock-in tactics are risky in an era where transparency and digital consumer rights are under the microscope. HP has said little publicly about this latest firmware wave, but the market is watching. Investors may want to weigh the short-term gains from ink exclusivity against long-term reputational drag, potential litigation, and the regulatory shifts that could render such strategies obsolete. Because when a business model starts to feel like a trap to its own users, regulators — and the market — tend to notice.

Tonernews.com, May 27, 2025. USA

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HP Inc. is once again making headlines — not for product innovation, but for its increasingly aggressive strategy to block third-party ink cartridges via firmware updates. The latest rollout of its Dynamic Security mechanism has rendered numerous compatible ink cartridges unusable across popular printer lines, triggering renewed criticism from consumers, legal observers, and regulators alike.
(Tonernews.com would like to thank our friends below at Spravnytoner.cz/ for this info)

As global scrutiny mounts, questions are being raised not just about consumer rights, but about the long-term sustainability — and legality — of HP’s ink-first business model.

Ink: The $5 Billion Strategy
HP’s printing business generates billions annually, but it’s not the printers that bring in the cash — it’s the ink. According to HP’s 2023 annual report, supplies revenue accounted for approximately 60% of the company’s total printing segment revenue. That stream depends heavily on customers purchasing HP-branded cartridges, which often retail at a steep markup compared to third-party alternatives.

By using firmware updates to block non-HP ink, the company reinforces a controlled ecosystem designed to protect its high-margin supplies business. But critics argue the tactic blurs the line between competitive strategy and monopolistic behavior.

The Latest Firmware Fallout
The most recent firmware updates have affected a wide range of printers, particularly in the OfficeJet Pro 69xx, 77xx, and 87xx series, as well as select HP Envy models. Cartridges impacted include: HP 903 / 903XL HP 902 / 902XL HP 953 / 953XL HP 963 / 963XL HP 934 / 935 HP 912 / 912XL

Distributors across Central Europe have reported widespread customer frustration and increased returns, as previously functional cartridges are now being rejected as “incompatible.”

While HP frames these updates as security enhancements to “protect the customer experience,” the practical impact has been to funnel consumers back toward HP’s proprietary consumables — often without prior notice.

The Legal and Reputational Risks
This is charted territory for HP. The company has already settled multiple lawsuits related to Dynamic Security, including a €10 million payout in Europe in 2020 and additional class action settlements in the United States. Yet, HP continues to rely on these updates as a key lever in its consumable’s strategy.

The risk? Regulatory scrutiny is sharpening, particularly in jurisdictions like the EU, where new digital product directives and “right to repair” laws are reshaping how companies can use software to restrict hardware functionality.

In the U.S., HP may soon find itself in the crosshairs of antitrust watchdogs, especially if class actions continue to allege anti-competitive behavior. Legal experts warn that continued firmware-based exclusions could be interpreted as a form of market manipulation — particularly if consumers are not properly informed.

Balancing Margin Protection with Consumer Backlash
From a corporate strategy standpoint, HP’s approach is not without logic. It protects a critical revenue stream and preserves quality control — a key argument HP makes when defending its chip-enabled cartridges. However, the consumer trust cost is steep, and

brand sentiment around HP printers has declined notably in recent quarters, according to consumer survey platforms like Trustpilot and Reddit user data.

This tug-of-war between revenue preservation and customer satisfaction isn’t new in the tech industry — Apple’s battery throttling scandal and John Deere’s software lockouts come to mind — but HP’s recurring reliance on firmware as a control tool is becoming increasingly controversial.

What’s Next for HP?
As competition from lower-cost printer brands and refillable ink systems (like Epson’s EcoTank) intensifies, HP may need to revisit its approach to customer retention. Lock-in tactics are risky in an era where transparency and digital consumer rights are under the microscope.

HP has said little publicly about this latest firmware wave, but the market is watching. Investors may want to weigh the short-term gains from ink exclusivity against long-term reputational drag, potential litigation, and the regulatory shifts that could render such strategies obsolete. Because when a business model starts to feel like a trap to its own users, regulators — and the market — tend to notice.
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May 27, 2025 at 3:26 PM

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