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here for the Dutch version.
Update 30 September > Press release: foundation (read below)
Update 19 September > Click
here for our solutions (Dutch language)
Update 16 September > Press release: reaction on blocked HP printers (read below)
Update 15 September > Click
here for our update (Dutch language)
Update 14 September > Click
here for our first investigation (Dutch language)
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more news about 123inkt.nl and HP
123inkt.nl has incorporated a foundation for affected customers with HP printers
The Netherlands, Nederhorst den Berg, 30 September 2016 - As indicated earlier, 123inkt.nl has incorporated a foundation for 123inkt private label customers who have been affected by HP's recent blockade of private label cartridges. The foundation aims to achieve that similar problems will no longer occur in the future and strives to have 123inkt private label customers compensated for direct damages caused by HP's action.
Affected 123inkt private label customers can benefit from the work of the foundation by using a form on the 123inkt.nl website to register. This will, for instance, make it possible for the foundation to claim damages suffered by 123inkt private label customers from HP. Any compensation will be for the full benefit of the 123inkt private label customer.
Incorrect argument
Since 13 September 2016, a blockade in the printer software, preprogrammed by HP, made a number of HP printers no longer accept private label cartridges. HP claimed that this was done to maintain secure communication between the cartridge and the printer and to protect HP's intellectual property. According to 123inkt.nl, this argument is unfounded and incorrect. Last year, the District Court at The Hague in The Netherlands denied HP's claim of patent infringement in a judgment of 25 November 2015 and ruled in favor of 123inkt.nl. The blockade is only the result of HP changing the code used by HP printers to recognize private label cartridges by the cartridge chip to make the blocking of these cartridges possible. Contrary to what HP wants people to believe, 123inkt private label cartridges can be safely used and do not infringe intellectual property rights of HP.
Two days ago, HP has finally apologized because of this blockade. HP also indicated that within a few weeks, an optional firmware update that allows customers to remove the blockade, will be made available. Earlier, the Dutch HP helpdesk also promised that the update causing the blockade would be undone but HP then did not follow up.
Not waiting
123inkt.nl decided not to wait for HP to keep its promise. Solutions have been found for all affected customers that make it possible to print with 123inkt private label cartridges again. Within a week after the discovery of the blockade, 123inkt has been able to supply its customers with a solution. New chips have been developed for all affected printers and for part of the printers, a firmware downgrade has been made available.
Step one is that everybody can print again. Step two is that in the future, 123inkt private label customers will not again be disturbed by such actions of HP. Step three is that those 123inkt private label customers who suffered damages because they had to buy more expensive HP cartridges as a result of this action taken by HP, , will be compensated by HP. The now incorporated foundation will speak to HP on these issues for the benefit of 123inkt private label customers.
123inkt.nl reaction on blocked HP Printers
The Netherlands, Nederhorst den Berg, 16 September 2016 - On Tuesday 13 september 2016 123inkt.nl received a large number of complaints that 123inkt private label cartridges were not functioning in various models of HP printers. Users received the error message (in Dutch): "Probleem met cartridge. Een of meerdere cartridges lijken te zijn beschadigd. Verwijder de cartridges en vervang ze door nieuwe cartridges." [Translation:"Problem with cartridge. One or more cartridges seem damaged. Remove the cartridges and replace them with new cartridges."] This is not the case, there is nothing wrong with 123inkt private label cartridges.
Research by 123inkt technicians indicated a large scale problem regarding the functioning of 123inkt private label cartridges in various HP printers. Subsequently 123inkt.nl has e-mailed customer informing them about the possible inadequate functioning of their HP printer. To get a better understanding of the scale of the problem, 123inkt.nl asked its customers to check whether the printer still functioned. Within one day more than 1000 consumers reported the problem.
123inkt.nl did extensive tests with various printer models. Once it became clear that the problem was caused by the printer firmware, 123inkt.nl asked HP Nederland for clarification on 13 September 2016. The reply was that HP Nederland did not know. Consumers who contacted HP customer service were informed that the problem was caused by the private label cartridges. One day later HP came back on that and the message now was that there had been a firmware update which caused the problem. The fact that private label cartridges were not functioning would be an unintended result of an update.
No firmware update
However, further research by 123inkt.nl shows that there have been no firmware updates of the printer models concerned prior to or at Tuesday 13 September 2016, as communicated by the HP helpdesk. The various printer models that have the problem have an update of 22 march 2016 (with firmware already developed in 2015). Also test printers held in in storage by 123inkt.nl, which had no network access and therefore were not updated, showed the problem. Printers with older firmware versions than the update of March 2016 also showed the problem per 13 September 2016. Therefore, 123inkt.nl's conclusion is that the problem is not the result of a recent update, but of the manner in which printer firmware has been programmed some time ago. HP's statement that the problem is caused by a recent firmware update is in our opinion incorrect and misleading
Solution
123inkt.nl has immediately contacted the chip manufacturer of its private label cartridges in order to solve the problem. They confirmed the problem and indicated to have received reports from around the world. In the meantime it has become possible to develop new chips for 123inkt.nl private label cartridges for some HP printers and those are already in production.
Technicians of 123inkt.nl have also been successful at getting blocked test printers working again with an old firmware version of 2014, but that solution cannot be easily carried out by consumers.
123inkt.nl is of the opinion that it is very simple for HP to again make this old firmware available and in that way directly solve the problem for users of these HP printers, but HP apparently choses not to do so.
Conclusion
This problem does not stand alone. Printer manufacturers regularly execute firmware-updates, claiming that they improve the operation of the printer or solve security issues. The (un)intended result usually is that the operation of lower price private label cartridges is disturbed and error messages are triggered. This time the problem was not the result of an update to improve the operation of the printer, but the HP firmware was apparently programmed in such a manner that this problem started at 13 September 2016.
Affected printer models
HP Officejet Pro 6830
HP Officejet Pro 8610
HP Officejet Pro 8615
HP Officejet Pro 8620
HP Officejet Pro 8625
HP Officejet Pro 8630
HP Officejet Pro 8640
HP Officejet Pro 8660
HP Officejet Pro x451dn
HP Officejet Pro x451dw
HP Officejet Pro x476dn
HP Officejet Pro x476dw
HP Officejet Pro x551dw
HP Officejet Pro x576dw
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