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HP printer users are reporting that their devices are no longer recognising unofficial ink cartridges, with one vendor saying they’d received more than a thousand complaints in a single day.
HP has since revealed that in its most recent firmware update, it had changed settings so that its printers could communicate with cartridges complete with HP chips, and would not work with cartridges without them.
“The purpose of this update is to protect HP’s innovations and intellectual property,” the firm said in a statement.
It has prompted an angry reaction from users, who have been quick to point out that HP cartridges are significantly more expensive than unofficial or third-party brands.
Dutch ink supplier 123inkt said in a statement on its website that more than a thousand customers had complained in a single day, and that HP’s claim that the change was due to recent update was “misleading”. The firm suggested the change had been pre-programmed to roll out this month.
HP did add that refilled cartridges containing the chip would still work however.
According to some on HP’s support forums, the HP OfficeJet, OfficeJet Pro and OfficeJet Pro X printers are the machines affected.
