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Brother accused of locking out third-party ink
with sneaky firmware updates, wiping older versions from support sites.
RepairTuber Louis Rossmann slams Brother for betraying consumers and joining the “anti-consumer” printer cartel.
Louis Rossmann, the outspoken RepairTuber and right-to-repair champion, is furious after discovering Brother’s sudden shift into anti-consumer territory. In a recent video, Rossmann expresses his shock and dismay at Brother’s new tactics, which he says put them firmly in line with companies like HP and Canon. According to Rossmann’s wiki, two major problems have arisen: forced firmware updates that block third-party toner, and updates that break color calibration on printers using aftermarket ink.Rossmann is visibly enraged by Brother’s underhanded move. He points out that, in the past, he often told users stuck with cartridge DRM from HP or Canon to “buy a Brother laser printer for $100, and all your problems will go away.” Now, though, he’s calling Brother a part of the very problem he once warned against. “Brother is among the rest of them now,” he lamented. “If you asked me to recommend a printer today, I’d be at a loss.”
The key issue? Firmware updates that deliberately block third-party ink cartridges. Rossmann has noticed that printers that previously worked with non-OEM ink now refuse to do so after an update, with Brother giving no warning about the change. He’s adamant that the only solution is to keep your printer offline to avoid these updates. “I highly suggest turning off your updates,” he says, pointing out how Brother is quietly joining the ranks of companies trying to force customers into using overpriced, proprietary ink.
Another issue that Rossmann finds particularly underhanded involves color printers. He shares reports from Brother MFP users who have discovered that, after a firmware update, their printers no longer calibrate properly with aftermarket ink—something that worked just fine before. As a result, these users are left with expensive, essentially useless ink cartridges. “Brother doesn’t just stop you from using cheaper ink—they’re actively making your printer unusable,” Rossmann declares.
And the worst part? Brother is making it nearly impossible for users to roll back to older, functional firmware versions. After these updates lock out third-party ink, Brother has quietly wiped older firmware versions from their support sites, leaving users stuck with the new restrictions.
While Rossmann acknowledges there’s little he can do to change the industry’s trajectory, he insists on calling attention to these shady practices. He argues that this is a clear example of how consumer rights are rapidly disappearing, with corporations taking control of what should be personal property. “This is bigger than printers,” he says. “It’s about our rights as consumers, and it’s time we wake up to what’s happening.”
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