HP Inc. has successfully defeated a proposed class action lawsuit accusing the company of forcing U.S. customers to pay inflated prices for ink cartridges. The lawsuit claimed that HP used software to block third-party ink cartridges, pushing consumers to buy only HP-branded ink. On October 1, 2025, U.S. District Judge Martha Pacold ruled in favor of HP, dismissing the case. The judge determined that the plaintiffs had not sufficiently proven that purchasing HP ink was an essential condition for using an HP printer. In other words, consumers failed to show that HP’s software restrictions made it impossible to use third-party cartridges, as the lawsuit had alleged.
https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/lbpgzemxnvq/Robinson%20v%20HP%2020250930.pdf
HP defended its practices, arguing that it didn’t prohibit the use of third-party ink but simply recommended its own products for optimal printer performance. This ruling marks a victory for HP, but the broader issue of high ink prices and limitations on third-party cartridges remains a point of contention in the tech industry. While the case is closed for now, similar lawsuits or consumer complaints could arise in the future as the debate over consumer rights and monopolistic practices continues.
