HP has found an exciting new way to DRM your printer!

Amazon’s #1 bestselling printer HP Deskjet 2755e, Its not hard to see why. For only $85 you can get a wireless color printer, scanner, And 6 months free ink. It also comes with HP Plus, one of the most atrocious plans Big Inkjet has ever come up with.

I’m not talking about how printers silently waste their ink, or pretend cartridges are empty when they’re not, or lock out official cartridges from other regions. Heck, I’m not even talking about “dynamic security,” where new HP firmware updates secretly contain malware that blocks a batch of third-party cartridges while pretending to harden your printhead. . against hack.

No, the genius of HP’s latest plan is that it’s hidden in plain sight, allowing you to unwittingly sign away your rights. Get free ink, and HP controls your printer for life.

First introduced in 2020 At the peak of the pandemic, the HP Plus was built around FOMO from the start. you only get seven days From the moment you plug a new printer into the wall, to claim your free ink. Act now, and it’ll extend your warranty for a full year, give you an “Enhanced HP Smart App” and plant your own, Because why wouldn’t you want to save the forest,

Here’s One Reason, As Detailed In A New Complaint International Imaging Technology Council (IITC) That could turn into a false advertising battle: The HP Plus comes with a firmware update that completely removes your printer’s ability to accept third-party inks. You will need to buy “genuine” HP ink as long as you use the printer.

it’s not quite clear How HP has managed to block third party cartridges completely, but it appears to be true. my own local Joe, who distributes ink cartridges from some of the world’s largest third-party manufacturers, tells me that those vendors have yet to make their aftermarket carts (or even user-refilled “genuine” ones) work with the HP Plus. HP” cartridges). Printer.

It would be one thing if you could cancel HP Plus and start using your printer normally again, but no! Even though HP claims you can “change or cancel anytime,” there is no way to deactivate the firmware, HP’s own technical support told IITC. (A ledge The source also confirms this.)

IITC writes, “In fact, once activated the customer may dispose of the HP+.” HP didn’t respond to our questions about the firmware update, including why it didn’t prominently state that there was no way to uninstall it.

IITC, a group that represents remanufacturers of ink cartridges, is yet to sue the world’s leading printer company. The complaint instead seeks to push back on HP’s environmental credentials by petitioning the Global Electronics Council (GEC), a non-profit organization that maintains an “EPEAT” registry of environmentally sound products.

Would you like to see the root of that argument? I went full blinking white cow when I saw it: HP, the company that repeatedly admits it blocks third-party cartridges for your own goodtelling an environmental group that it doesn’t do it at all,

See, when HP receives these printers on the EPEAT registry, it successfully Washing Its reputation. The company is required to affix EPEAT labels to its website and products, each of which suggests that an independent third party has certified that HP really does care about the planet.

But EPEAT has a very specific set of rules that certify printers May not prevent use of non-OEM cartridges, And the HP Plus is just the latest in a long line of ways HP ties you to its inks.

Incredibly, the Global Electronics Council is well aware of the HP Plus and is mostly playing around with it. For example, the HP Deskjet 2755e and family Currently considered EPEAT SilverWith only a footnote that “the optional HP+ configuration does not meet the required criteria 4.9.2.1.”

“(a) any printer that is documented including the HP+ should not be eligible for EPEAT registration,” the IITC argues, adding that HP’s dynamic protection feature is also a clear violation of the same rule—since HP also believes It is designed to block cartridges “using non-HP chips or modified or non-HP electronic circuitry.”

IITC says HP released four “killer firmware updates” over the past eight weeks to silently block third-party cartridges from working in EPEAT-registered HP inkjet printers, and at least 26 against HP laser printers Are. HP did not respond to our question about EPEAT compliance.

But I don’t want you to get too distracted by “dynamic security”, because I haven’t extremely Just finished warning you about HP’s free ink.

Here are some selected quotes from I think you’ll appreciate this (bolding mine):

You expressly permit HP to remotely replace, patch, update or otherwise modify your printer’s software, firmware or programming without notice.To provide the Service to you or comply with applicable laws

may include remote monitoring Provision to HP of one or more of the following: page count, type of document printed (eg, Word, PowerPoint, pdf, jpeg, etc.), type of device that created the print job, printer serial number, cartridge information (eg, HP original cartridge) starting condition, and whether the cartridge was new or used at the time of its last insertion into the printer), and other similar metrics related to your service as may be added by HP from time to time

You agree to maintain your Printer’s connectivity to the Internet and not to remove or disable any remote monitoring software or functionality on your Printer

Subscription cartridges if your printer is not connected to the Internet (as defined in section D below) will be disabled, and you won’t be able to use them to print; However, you will continue to be charged for the Service as described in Section 7 (“Payment for your Service”). To reactivate a disabled cartridge, you must reconnect your printer to the Internet and keep it connected

When your service is canceled for any reason, HP will remotely disable the subscription cartridges and you will not be able to print with the subscription cartridges. In this case, you will need to buy a regular HP cartridge compatible with your printer to continue printing

HP may increase or otherwise change the Service Plan Fee and Overage Fee, add extra chargesto any service plan, or otherwise change or add service plans at any time in HP’s sole discretion with prior notice to you

printer ink one of the most expensive liquids All over the world. Free ink is tempting! But please don’t take the free ink. Please Doing Make fun of inkjet supplies and hostage situations until these companies change their tune. ,example is,

And maybe buy a brother instead.