Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Lexmark DMCA Case Winds On

Posted by michael on from the big-brother-inside dept.

The EFF filed a brief (brief, press release) in the ongoing case over Lexmark incorporating copyright-protected code in their printer cartridges in order to prevent competitors from producing compatible cartridges for their printers. The BBC notes some of the harmful effects of lack of competition in the industry.

5 of 353 comments (clear)

  1. Copy Protected Cartridges by My+name+isn't+Tim · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I used to work for a Printer supplies wholesaler and we had a supplier called MultiLaser that would Chip the Lexmark cartridges to be able to recycle them. Lexmark also had this prebate program where you would get a rebate if you agreed not to sell to recyclers.

  2. Re:Here's a thought... by RandomWhiteMan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There's acctually a big differene in Lexmark printers out there. Don't ever buy one from their home line of printers. I had one and it was broke after my first year of college. Their business class printers however are pretty decent. A friend of mine interned with them working on the business class drivers and claimed they were really good printers, but the home models sucked.

  3. The razor, razorblade model by DeadSea · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Manufacturers often sell the printer itself at below cost, expecting to make profits on the consumables. Consumables don't have to be just ink and toner. They can also be rollers, fusers, and other parts that are expected to wear out.

    There are so many players in the inkjet printer space that they are sometimes shooting themselves in the foot by going with this model. No manufacturer can offer printers at cost now because nobody would pay $250 for an inkjet. But at the same time, they lose money like crazy on certain types of buyers. Business travelers often buy a cheap printer at their destination rather than pack one. Consumers often get a new printer with each new computer they buy because the added cost in negligible. There are so many used printers out there, that they often cannot be given away.

    The industry itself would benifit from reform in this area. However, to make it happen, all manufacturers will have to charge more for printers and less for cartridges. If even one player sticks with the old model, that player will see all the gains.

  4. Epson vs. Canon ink level reading by real_smiff · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I recently replaced an Epson 800 with a Canon i850, and have been very pleased with it. Unlike Epson et all, which use chips or drivers to tell you/guess where the ink level is, Canon printers (possibly uniquely? i don't know) actually have a prism in the bottom of each cartridge, and shine a light through this. depending on whether this is covered with ink or not, from the refraction changes it can deduce how much ink is in there. thus it's actially *looking*, which seems to be the right way to do things... Anyway, i bought a big pack of ink and when they run out i'll be squirting more in with a syringe.. i've done it on someone else's printer and they never complained so i guess it worked :)

    --

    This is my Sig, this is my Gun. One is for Slashdot and one is for Fun.

  5. It's way too expensive also. by wackoman2112 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    According to ThisIsLondon, Ink for home printers are 7 times more expensive than vintage champagne.

    They also claim that ignoring low ink warnings can double the life of ink cartridges. I wish I could ignore the warnings, as my Lexmark printer forbids me to print once 75% of ink is gone!

    Those greedy pigs!

    --
    /usr/bin/complain > /dev/null