Brother accused of locking down third-party printer ink cartridges (tomshardware.com)

Article summary

Brother, a printer company, has been accused of locking down third-party printer ink cartridges through forced firmware updates, which can disable the use of cheaper, non-Brother ink cartridges. This move has been criticized by repair advocates and consumers who prefer to use third-party ink. The company has also been removing older firmware versions from its support portals, making it difficult for users to roll back to previous versions. This has led to concerns about consumer rights and the trend of companies prioritizing profits over customer needs.

Main themes

• Printer industry trends
• Consumer rights
• Firmware updates
• Third-party ink cartridges
• Corporate greed

What commenters say

• The practice of locking down third-party ink cartridges is a clear example of companies prioritizing profits over customer needs and convenience.
• Some argue that the security risks associated with not updating firmware outweigh the potential drawbacks of forced updates, while others believe that the risks are minimal and that updates often cause more problems than they solve.
• The removal of older firmware versions from support portals is a deliberate attempt to force consumers into using more expensive, proprietary ink cartridges.
• There is a need for open-source or hacker-friendly printers that allow users to have more control over their devices and avoid the restrictions imposed by manufacturers.
• The trend of companies like Brother and HP engaging in anti-consumer practices is a result of the pursuit of profit and the lack of effective regulation or competition in the industry.
• Some commenters suggest that the solution to these problems lies in developing alternative printing technologies, such as pen-plotters or 3D printing, that are more open and customizable.