Locking out third party toner

The lawsuit centred on HP’s controversial Dynamic Security feature: software designed to detect and reject toner cartridges not produced by HP itself. The system, enabled through automatic firmware updates, left some users unable to print at all if they’d chosen cheaper, third party alternatives.

The lead plaintiffs included Mobile Emergency Housing Corp (MEHC), a US based organisation providing emergency shelter services, and Performance Automotive, a car parts business. Both reported that HP printers they had purchased in good faith suddenly stopped accepting non HP toner after a firmware update was remotely triggered.

• MEHC said it had bought an HP Color LaserJet Pro M254 in 2019 and opted for third party toner in 2020 to cut costs. The following month, a firmware update rendered the cartridges useless.
• Performance Automotive said it had a similar experience with its HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281fdw after installing an update that blocked non HP supplies.

A profitable strategy?

It seems that HP hasn’t denied the existence of Dynamic Security. In fact, it appears to have defended the system openly. For example, speaking back at the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, CEO Enrique Lores highlighted how HP’s business model depends on profits from consumables, not hardware, saying: “We lose money on the hardware, we make money on the supplies,” and that, “we’re investing in that customer every time a printer is sold.”

The fact that in FY2024, HP’s printing division generated $4.5 billion in net revenue, much of it from proprietary ink and toner sales, appears to support this idea.

Lores has also argued that Dynamic Security helps protect customers from potential security threats, claiming third party cartridges could, in theory, carry malicious firmware. However, such risks remain hypothetical and there’s little evidence of this happening in real world scenarios.

Settlement without liability

Rather than fight the lawsuit in court, HP has now agreed to settle without admitting wrongdoing. Under the terms, the company will continue to disclose that its printers may block third party cartridges and has pledged to allow customers the choice to install or decline firmware updates containing Dynamic Security.

“HP denies that it did anything wrong,” the official settlement notice states, “but agrees to maintain certain disclosures and options regarding firmware updates.”

While it appears that no compensation will be paid, the agreement marks another chapter in HP’s ongoing efforts to defend its closed ecosystem, even as it comes under increasing scrutiny from customers and regulators alike.

The growing backlash against lock in

Unfortunately for HP, this issue isn’t likely to go away. Many customers see the lockout as an unfair restriction, especially when third party cartridges can cost a fraction of the price. On forums and social media, frustrated users have voiced concerns about being forced into costly purchases with little warning or transparency.

For businesses that rely on predictable print costs, these kinds of restrictions can have real operational impacts. For example:

• Disruption risk. Sudden firmware changes can halt printing workflows, causing downtime for organisations.
• Cost inflation. HP branded toner is often significantly more expensive, impacting budgets for schools, small businesses, and non profits.
• Reduced trust. Customers may question whether HP prioritises their interests, or simply its bottom line.

HP’s not the only one

It’s worth noting here that HP’s not alone in exploring this kind of supply chain lock in. Other printer makers, including Canon and Epson, have also been accused of using software to prevent third party cartridges from functioning.

However HP has become one of the most visible examples, perhaps because it’s also one of the most vocal. With lawsuits, user complaints, and increasing regulatory scrutiny in both the US and EU, it seems that efforts to tightly control consumables may be backfiring.

A 2023 report by the European Commission warned that such tactics could breach consumer rights, and several EU countries are now pushing for regulations guaranteeing “the right to repair” and “freedom of choice” for printer supplies.

HP, meanwhile, remains firm on its stance, offering its own cartridge recycling programmes and claiming that its proprietary ecosystem is ultimately more sustainable and secure.

That said, for many customers, particularly in sectors where budgets are tight, that argument is proving increasingly hard to justify.

What does this mean for your business?

HP’s settlement may avoid an outright legal defeat but is likely to leave lingering concerns for businesses that rely on its printers. The company’s willingness to restrict functionality through remote updates, especially without warning, appears to raise serious questions about control, transparency and long term value.

While HP has pledged to give users the choice over future firmware updates, the incident highlights the risks of buying into ecosystems that can be altered unilaterally. For small businesses, charities, schools, and other organisations with tight margins, the ability to use affordable third party toner isn’t just a preference but is a necessity.

It’s also a warning sign for procurement teams that printer selection should no longer be just about hardware specs or upfront cost. It’s about understanding how restrictive the vendor’s software policies are, and what support or surprises may lie ahead.

If anything, this case shows how vendors are doubling down on closed loop business models. Companies may want to reassess whether HP’s approach aligns with their operational and financial priorities, or if a more open, flexible printing solution would be the smarter investment.

As printer manufacturers continue to balance profit protection with customer satisfaction, the pressure is on to prove that these digital lock ins serve users as well as shareholders.

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Firmware updates allegedly restrict third party ink

Right to repair activist and electronics technician Louis Rossmann has accused Brother of deploying firmware updates that hinder the use of non OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) consumables. According to Rossmann, users have reported that certain printer functions, such as automatic colour registration, stop working after an update when a third party cartridge is detected.

Several users have taken to forums and social media to confirm similar issues, with reports stating that previously functional non OEM toner cartridges suddenly started producing lower quality prints or experiencing feature restrictions. Furthermore, rolling back to an earlier firmware version is proving difficult, as Brother has removed older updates from its servers.

Brother denies any wrongdoing

Brother has responded to the allegations, denying any deliberate attempt to block third party consumables. The company issued a statement saying:

“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.”

Brother maintains that while they encourage the use of Brother branded toner for optimal performance, their printers do not intentionally degrade print quality based on the cartridge brand. The company attributes user concerns to its standard troubleshooting process, which includes a “Brother Genuine check”: a diagnostic step that ensures a printer functions correctly with its own branded consumables.

Not the first manufacturer to face backlash

Brother is not the first printer manufacturer accused of anti consumer practices related to third party ink. HP, for example, has implemented “Dynamic Security,” which blocks non HP cartridges entirely. The company has faced multiple lawsuits over this strategy, with critics accusing it of monopolistic practices. HP, however, defends its approach, citing security risks associated with third party cartridges, including claims that they could potentially introduce malware.

Similarly, Canon has been criticised for implementing firmware updates that disable scanning functions when ink is low, even when the ink is unrelated to the scanning process. Epson has also faced scrutiny for its use of DRM (Digital Rights Management) technology, which prevents cartridges from functioning after a certain period, even if they remain full.

What does this mean for your business?

For businesses relying on printers for everyday operations, Brother’s alleged restrictions could pose challenges. Many companies opt for third party toner to cut costs, often paying significantly less than the high price of OEM cartridges. However, with firmware updates now potentially limiting this option, businesses may find themselves locked into purchasing expensive Brother branded supplies.

While Brother insists that these changes do not impact third party ink compatibility, user reports suggest otherwise. Companies using Brother printers may need to consider steps such as disabling automatic firmware updates to prevent potential functionality losses. However, doing so carries security risks, as firmware updates often include patches for vulnerabilities.

The growing controversy surrounding printer manufacturers and third party ink restrictions could push regulatory bodies to take action. Consumer advocacy groups have already called for stricter oversight of post sale function removal, arguing that disabling previously available features through software updates constitutes deceptive business practices.

As the debate unfolds, businesses should remain vigilant, assessing how these firmware updates might affect their operations. While Brother’s printers have historically been a more user friendly option in terms of third party toner compatibility, recent developments suggest that the industry as a whole is moving toward tighter control over consumable use, thereby raising important questions about fairness, transparency and consumer choice.

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This Issue 

As highlighted by Global Risk Institute research, 27 per cent of experts think there is a 50 per cent likelihood of a cryptographically relevant quantum computer (CRQC) by 2033. HP says that “when that day comes, the security of existing digital signatures on firmware and software will be in question and digital trust will dissolve.” 

If quantum computers reach a point where they can crack our current cryptographic protections, the implications for businesses, societies, and individuals could be profound and wide ranging. For example, the consequences could include:

• Massive data breaches and privacy loss, compromising everything from financial records to private communications.
• The undermining of financial systems, enabling unauthorised access to financial accounts, manipulation of transactions, and theft of funds. This, in turn, could erode trust in digital banking and financial systems, leading to widespread economic instability.
• National security communications being exposed, thereby compromising state secrets, military operations, plus critical infrastructure, potentially altering the balance of power on a global scale.
• Disruption of digital trust systems like digital signatures and SSL certificates, which underpin the security of online communications and commerce, thereby disrupting e-commerce, undermining the integrity of digital contracts, and eroding trust in online services.

New Cryptographic Standard? 

In response to these potential threats, the security community has been actively developing and standardising quantum resistant cryptographic algorithms. These Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms aim to secure cryptographic systems against quantum attacks by relying on mathematical problems that are believed to be difficult for quantum computers to solve.

However, HP says that migrating our entire digital world to a new cryptographic standard is a huge undertaking and that while software can be updated, hardware can’t. This includes some of the cryptography that protects PC firmware. HP points out that “with no cryptographic protections in place, no device would be safe – attackers could access and modify the underlying firmware and gain total control.” 

HP’s Answer 

HP’s future proofing answer is embedding protection against quantum computer hacks in PCs at the chip level via its 5th generation ESC chip. By isolating the chip from the processor and OS, HP says the ESC provides a hardware platform that reduces the risk of data breaches and improves productivity by preventing downtime.

Start Now Says HP 

HP points out that with typical PC refresh cycles now every three to five years, and with the wider trend towards extending the life of hardware to improve sustainability, the migration to post quantum cryptography should ideally start now. HP says that with its 2024 ESC upgrade, the hardware will be in place to protect PC firmware integrity with Quantum Resistant Cryptography, thereby delivering a secure foundation ahead of upgrades to software implementations of cryptography within PCs in the future.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The potential of quantum computers being capable of breaking asymmetric cryptography is placing the entire digital world at an increasing risk. For UK businesses, this threat represents both a challenge and a call to action. Research suggests that the arrival of cryptographically relevant quantum computing is not a question of if, but when, with a significant number of experts anticipating its emergence by 2033. This reality necessitates a proactive approach to cybersecurity, particularly in safeguarding digital signatures on firmware and software that underpin the trust and integrity of our digital interactions and transactions.

Currently, the security community is responding by developing and standardising quantum resistant cryptographic algorithms or Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) solutions. These could secure against both classical and quantum computing threats, thereby safeguarding digital assets and communications in the quantum era. However, as HP points out, transitioning our digital infrastructure to a new cryptographic standard is a potentially monumental task, complicated further by the limitations of hardware adaptation.

For UK businesses, this means that relying solely on software updates for future protection may be insufficient. Hardware, particularly PC firmware, that is less frequently updated and often overlooked in cybersecurity strategies, presents a critical vulnerability. This is why HP believes the introduction of the world’s first business PCs designed to protect firmware against quantum computer attacks is a significant development. HP’s idea of embedding protection at the chip level through its 5th generation ESC chip could offer businesses a solution that anticipates the quantum threat and addresses the challenges of hardware security at the same time.

HP also believes its approach of isolating the chip from the processor and operating system could create a more secure hardware platform. This idea may be particularly relevant for UK businesses, where the trend towards extending the lifecycle of hardware for sustainability purposes further exacerbates the vulnerability to future quantum attacks. With the threat apparently just a few years away, HP’s suggestion of starting the migration to quantum resistant cryptographic solutions now, as part of the typical PC refresh cycle, sounds like it could be a sensible move for businesses.

In short, the message for UK businesses is that the threat of quantum computing to cybersecurity is real and approaching fast and preparing for this issue means adopting a holistic view of cybersecurity that includes both software and hardware considerations. Although HP’s new solution offers one potential answer to quantum threats, there will most likely be other innovative solutions offered by other companies in the near future, so it will be a case of businesses choosing the one with the best fit for their individual needs and budget.

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This $40 billion brand was incorporated on 18th August back in 1947.

You’ll have heard of HP for their printers because the HP LaserJet series launched in 1984 rapidly became the world’s most popular brand. But less well known is that they’ve invented atomic clocks, LEDs and the world’s first programmable electronic calculator. In fact, Steve Wozniak worked at HP and had to sell his own personal calculator to help get Apple off the ground.

Before their incorporation, they were founded in 1939 by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard. The HP or PH was decided by a tossed coin!

Classmates from Stanford University, they became friends while camping back in 1934. In a similar manner to other startups, for example Google and Apple, they started in Dave Packard’s garage in Palo Alto. This garage is now considered the birthplace of Silicon Valley.

With startup capital of just $538, they started off by building audio-oscillators which are electronic test instruments used by sound engineers. They’d developed a way to make and sell them for £89 dollars, while inferior ones were being sold for over $200. This was noticed by the Disney Corporation, whose sound engineers working on Disney’s film “Fantasia” needed help to make innovative sound effects, among many other things.

The war came to America so they made electronics such as counter radar measures and while opportunities like these helped, they put their success down to running their company “The HP Way”. David Packard wrote a book about this and it’s worth a read.

The main principles are here, which are just as relevant now as ever:

1. Trust and respect for individuals
2. Focus on a high level of achievement and contribution
3. Uncompromising Iintegrity
4. Achievement of common objectives through teamwork
5. Encouragement of innovation and flexibility
6. Corporate citizenship – HP believed in making a positive contribution to society and behaving as a good corporate citizen

Perhaps have a think about this the next time you’re desperately trying to print out your flight tickets for your holidays and the computer says it “can’t see” the printer, even though it’s plugged in and connected right next to it!

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