The US trial against HP continues in the USA, with printer owners accusing the company of anti-competitive actions. The case, which began in January, revolves around a firmware update released by HP between the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. This update allegedly blocks the operation of printers when using non-original cartridges, without informing buyers beforehand.
Legal documents submitted by the plaintiffs seek compensation for losses incurred from third-party cartridges rendered useless by the update. They also request the court to ban firmware updates that restrict the use of alternative ink.
In response to the lawsuit, HP argues that customers were notified about the requirement to use cartridges with the HP Security Chip. The company defends its “Dynamic Security” measures implemented since 2016 to combat fake or cloned chips, which is aimed at ensuring printer compatibility. HP maintains that these actions are legal as they do not impede the use of cartridges with original HP chips.
HP refutes the plaintiffs’ claim for damages related to inflated cartridge prices, citing competition laws that allow for judicial intervention to prevent violations but not for seeking damages for perceived price hikes. The company highlights that none of the plaintiffs purchased ink directly from HP post-firmware update.
HP’s General Director, Enrique Lores, remains optimistic about the company’s printing model despite the high ink costs ranging from $439 to $2380 per liter. This pricing strategy is common in the industry where initial printer sales often incur losses for manufacturers, with hopes of increasing profitability through ink sales.