HP apologises for ink-blocking update

Official HP cartridges are more expensive than third-party alternatives

HP has backtracked on a software update that blocked some ink cartridges made by third parties. 

A controversial firmware change made earlier this month meant HP printer owners using unofficial, usually cheaper, cartridges discovered they would no longer work.

A campaign calling on HP to reverse the move was launched, backed by rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).


In a blog post, HP admitted it had should have done a "better job of communicating” the change.
An optional update that removes the restriction on unofficial cartridges will be available “within two weeks”.

The firm added: “We are committed to transparency in all of our communications and when we fall short, we call ourselves out."

But while making the apology for how it informed users, HP defended the move, saying it did so to protect users from counterfeit products.

"When ink cartridges are cloned or counterfeited, the customer is exposed to quality and potential security risks, compromising the printing experience,” wrote Jon Flaxman, the company’s chief operating officer.

However, campaigners argued HP’s motivation was less about security, and more about protecting the large profit margins it adds to official ink cartridges.