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HP Secretly Rendering Printer Cartridges Unusable?
Momoru writes "Looks like a woman is suing Hewlett Packard, claiming that their "smart chip" technology, besides giving information about ink usage, is also secretly programmed to not work after a certain certain date." From the article: "HP ink cartridges use a chip technology to sense when they are low on ink and advise the user to make a change. But the suit claims those chips also shut down the cartridges at a predetermined date regardless of whether they are empty." We've reported recently on printer companies making questionable business decisions.
"Might have been proven to work"? Um, yeah, whatever...
Yeah, hacking the carts to remove the expiration date is a good way to get some lawsuits sent at you. After all, they have a big legal department and have a lot of extra money for a legal fund.
What if you saw a pack of razors at the store for like, $1 for a decent quality brand? You'd probably buy them if you're the shaving type. Now lets say that these are made from some revolutionary material that biodegrades in three days. The expiration date on the package is set for three days after sale. You buy the razors and think you're getting a good deal. Three days later, the razors are a puddle of nondescript goo in the package you bought them in.
You do some research and find a way to 'deactivate' the degrading mechanism.
You've just destroyed this company's business model. Their 'good idea' is now a disaster that it might take them months to change. Of course its a stupid idea for the company, but they're more worried about those who oppose them (you) than making good ideas.
Job? I don't have time to get a job! Who will sit around and bitch about being broke and unemployed then?
I can only hope HP comes down on this woman with the full force of the DMCA. Once consumer defiance begins, even in these small ways, if is not promptly stifled it is impossible to gauge the devastating repurcussions it will have on the economic market.