HP pays out in another settlement over ink cartridge DRM

HP agreed to pay up to $1.35 million in compensation to users

in four European nations for its implementation of ink cartridge DRM in 2016.

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In a recent settlement with the consumer organisation Euroconsumers,

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HP previously consented to such payments to clients on other continents.

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The issue began when some HP printers' firmware was updated,

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causing them to reject ink cartridges from brands other than HP,

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which could be recognised by the absence of HP's DRM chips.

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DRM may also detect refilling of a discarded HP cartridge. Third-party ink is typically less expensive

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than "official" cartridges from printer manufacturers who follow a razor-and-blade

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business strategy to recover costs through the sale of inexpensive machines.

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