March 14, 2026
Cartridge Cage Match
HP has new incentive to stop blocking third-party ink in its printers
Green score at risk, users say: just buy Brother or Epson
TLDR: A trade group says HP’s firmware that blocks third‑party ink clashes with new EPEAT 2.0 “green” rules, risking HP’s eco cred. Commenters are done waiting—swearing off HP and cheering Brother and Epson, while snarking about typos and e‑waste from printers that “update” themselves into bricks.
HP’s long-running “Dynamic Security” ink lock is back in the stocks—this time, a toner-and-ink trade group says the move breaks new eco rules. EPEAT 2.0, a “green products” registry run by the Global Electronics Council, bans printer updates that intentionally block remanufactured cartridges. Translation: if HP wants that Earth-friendly badge, it can’t keep bricking third‑party ink. The group may be biased (its members profit from aftermarket cartridges), but the crowd doesn’t care—everyone’s here for the roast.
The comments read like a mass exodus. One user barked, “Use a Brother Laser Printer. You’ll be happier!” Others told tales of HPs that auto‑updated into paperweights, then got swapped for Brother or Epson EcoTank models. A five‑year EcoTank victory lap got applause, while another commenter said they “had to throw away a perfectly good HP” after an unwanted update killed every cartridge—cue e‑waste outrage. Meanwhile, a sideshow erupted over Ars’ own typo (“callls”), because of course the printer drama needed a subplot.
Between sustainability rules (EPEAT 2.0), a skeptical-but-loud trade group (Int’l ITC), and years of angry customers (class action vibes), the vibe is clear: stop the ink lock, or lose users (and that green shine). The meme du jour? “My printer just subscribed me to itself.”
Key Points
- •The International Imaging Technology Council (Int’l ITC) criticizes HP for firmware updates that block third-party ink and toner, known as Dynamic Security.
- •The group argues these updates conflict with EPEAT 2.0 criteria for registered imaging equipment under the General Electronics Council (GEC).
- •EPEAT 2.0, launched in December 2025, aims to promote sustainability, circularity, and responsible supply chains across several product categories, including printers.
- •EPEAT 2.0 requires that registered products not prevent use of remanufactured cartridges, with options including refraining from firmware that disables such cartridges and providing approved solutions with unmodified OEM circuitry.
- •Dynamic Security has been used by HP for years and has drawn criticism from customers and security experts, adding weight to the Int’l ITC’s complaint.