European Parliament: No More Ink-Cartridge Chips

Leon Zandman writes "Electric News reports that the European Parliament voted unanimously on Wednesday in favour of a new EU "electroscrap" recycling law, which comes into effect in 2006 and includes a ruling directing manufacturers of printers to no longer incorporate chips into their own-brand ink refill cartridges. These chips prevent cartridges produced by other manufacturers from being used in many printers. In addition, proponents of the measure say the chips prevent them from being refilled -- a feature on many cartridges made by printer manufacturers. Seems that prices of printer cartridges are going to drop. Let's hope the prices of the printers themselves will not skyrocket..."

Comments

Bah, who cares...

[adamjaskie]

if the printers are more expensive? Id rather spend $500 on a printer, and $10 on an ink cartridge every month than $50 on a printer and $40 on an ink cartridge every month. Heck, if colour LASER printers were more affordable, I'd buy one! Inkjets arent worth it unless your printing photos. Even then, a dye-sub is better.

mmm

[doofusclam]

This is a good thing. We all know about the razor blade/printer anology but it's gone too far with printers - they give them away with loads of big name PCs. Trouble is they're so crap, or the carts are so expensive that i'd never buy one of these bundles - these things aren't designed to handle an average users needs, they're designed to provide a revenue stream.

No More Ink

[perljon]

When governments artificially interfere with capitalism, it always causes undesired consequences.

If I were a printer manufacturer, I would not sell printers or cartridges in that country. I would still sell them to bordering countries. Net affect... You still have to buy my printer, and you still have to buy my ink cartridge. It just costs you more because you have buy it someowhere else (ie, internet).

If I didn't go this route, and I decided to still try to compete, I would have to run two models of printers/ink cartridges. And I would be caucious of people in other countries exporting said printers. Also, I would no longer have revenue in ink. Therefore, rise my printer price as much as possible to a) discourage exports and b) still make some money off the deal. I would also have to add in the costs of running two business lines. So any savings in ink cartridges is almost certainly gone.

My third option would be to change all of my printers to this business model. However, in the rest of the world, do you really think Joe Consumer, looking at two printers with identical print quality and relability would buy a $500 printer over a $50 one? I know I wouldn't. Therefore, very quickly, this printer company would only be selling printers in that one country who has mandated this printer law. (Companies know this, and I'm sure they'll choose one of the other two options.)

What does this mean to the consumers of these government controlled printers? They're going to pay more money for their printing. Conclusion, Government regulation costs more money than it saves, and effeciency can be gained by removing government restrictions.

It's like when those bonehead politicians try to place maximum prices on Gas or Food. Net affect, you don't get any gas or food, but when you do get it, it's cheap. I'd rather pay market value for gas than have none at all. Same with food. That's why the Russian Communist system didn't work.

Re:Skyrocket? Yup...

[perljon]

You had the choice to buy a more expensive printer with cheaper/generic capable cartridges. But you didn't. Let the market choose (like you did when you bought the thing). Why should a few politicians outvoice the masses who have chosen to buy cheap printers with expensive cartridges?

current printers?

[jeffy124]

I dont see this helping current state of affairs. What about printers that currently require that chip?

Also, will this spill over into other countries? Ie, would manufactures make printers w/o chip requirements, and then simply market then to all? Or only make a set of printers specially for Europe, and Europe only, leaving chips in those destined for elsewhere?

Because they *are* the voice of the masses

[sonamchauhan]

Why should a few politicians outvoice the masses who have chosen to buy cheap printers with expensive cartridges?

That's because these politicians are the voice of the masses. They were voted-in by the masses with the mandate to make laws like this.

It's about Recycling.

[Ratso Baggins]

Everyone seems to be on the pro/con $corporation bandwagon. This is only an effect of the decission.

The issue is recycling. The EU considers issues from an environmental and economic perspective and not solely an economic. Their rationale is not so concerned with the monetary price as much as the environmental impact of these cartriges in manufacturing and land-fill.

It appears the rulings were made from the responses from printer manufacturers et al. - With all their: can't this, wont that... While some of it is vaguely valid (eg replacement jets in the cart) This will only encourage innovation.