Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Brother printers causing issues with third party inks

2025-08-12T05:05:51Z

AnonWriter: Changed "forced" to "coerced" to soften the language

{{IncidentCargo
| Company = Brother Industries Ltd.
| Type = Digital restrictions,Firmware lockout
| StartDate = 2025
| Description = Brother pushed firmware updates that degrade non-OEM toner's print quality - forcing consumers to buy more expensive genuine Brother toner
| Status = Active
| ProductLine =
| ArticleType = Product
| Product =
}}

{{ToneWarning}}
[[Brother Industries Ltd.|Brother]] has a reputation for allowing third-party toner use & being more consumer friendly than competing printer companies, such as [[HP]]. In recent years, they've implemented '''firmware updates that deliberately lower print quality when using non-OEM toner'''. These updates disable color registration & other features which encourages the use of expensive genuine Brother toner.(citation needed)

==Exploitative practices==
*'''Post-Sale Function Removal''' – Firmware updates retroactively remove previously available features, such as automatic color registration, for users using non-OEM toner.<ref name="reddit">[https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/s9b2eg Brother MFC firmware update - non-genuine toner now disables critical features.]</ref><ref name="reddit-2">[https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/w60687/brother_mfcl3370cdw_firmware_downgrade_needed/ Brother MFC-L3370CDW Firmware Downgrade needed]</ref>
*'''Vendor lock-in via DRM''' – Printers continue to function with third-party toner but print at lower quality unless OEM toner is installed.
*'''Anti-consumer software practices''' – Firmware updates cannot be easily rolled back, preventing consumers from restoring lost functionality.<ref name="github-fwupd">[https://github.com/sedrubal/brother_printer_fwupd/issues/9 Brother printer firmware downgrade discussion.]</ref>
*'''Deceptive practices''' – Printers do not reject third-party toner but intentionally cause a toner failure, which discourages use of third party toners.<ref name="hackernews">[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31860131 Tell HN: Brother printers now locking out non-OEM paraphernalia.]</ref><ref name="reddit-2" />

==How it works==
1. Consumers purchase a '''Brother laser printer''' that previously accepted third-party toner.

2. A '''firmware update (e.g., W1.56)''' is pushed, which does not notify users of any major functional changes.

3. After updating, users notice that:

*Color registration '''fails automatically''', misaligning prints.<ref name="cups">[https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/CUPS/Printer-specific_problems#Updating_the_firmware ArchWiki - Printer-specific problems with Brother.]</ref>
*Brother support acknowledges that installing OEM toner will resolve the issue instantly.<ref name="hackernews" />
*'''Older firmware versions are removed from Brother’s servers''', preventing downgrades.<ref name="github-ohbrother">[https://github.com/CauldronDevelopmentLLC/oh-brother/issues/30 Discussion on firmware rollback for Brother printers.]</ref>

==Impact on Consumer Protection==
*Customers who were able to save money buying third-party toner are now '''coerced into expensive OEM toner purchases'''.
*Brother’s '''positive reputation''' for allowing third-party toner is tarnished.
*'''No prior warning''' was given to consumers before these updates were installed.
*Workarounds involve '''blocking firmware updates''' or attempting '''risky firmware downgrades''', both of which Brother actively discourages.

==Brother's response==
On March 5th 2025, following the publication of a video on the Louis Rossmann YouTube channel, Brother addressed the issue, in a response given to Ars Technica, stating the following <ref name="ars-response">[https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/brother-denies-using-firmware-updates-to-brick-printers-with-third-party-ink/ Brother denies using firmware updates to brick printers with third-party ink]</ref>
<blockquote>
We are aware of the recent false claims suggesting that a Brother firmware update may have restricted the use of third-party ink cartridges. Please be assured that Brother firmware updates do not block the use of third-party ink in our machines.
</blockquote>
They also detailed that
<blockquote>
Brother printers do not intentionally degrade print quality based on whether a Brother Genuine or non-genuine ink/ toner cartridge is used. Brother cannot verify the quality of printing that will result when using a third-party compatible with a Brother printer.
</blockquote>
Finally they attributed the confusion from consumers to
<blockquote>
Brother encourages the use of Brother Genuine ink and toner for optimal performance and reliability, and it is standard practice that we perform a Brother [G]enuine check when troubleshooting a Brother printer. Compatible supplies may range in quality, and in order to verify that a printer is working properly, we like to troubleshoot with Brother Genuine supplies. We believe this check in the process may have led to a misunderstanding[,] but as we confirmed, the firmware update would not be responsible for the degradation of quality or removal of printer features.
</blockquote>
==User evidence & reports==
===Hacker News Discussion (2022)===
*Users noticed that '''Brother printers accepted third-party toner but deliberately degraded print quality'''.
*One user stated:
<blockquote>''Brother seems to be apparently accepting the ink, but then purposefully making the print quality poorer.''<ref name="hackernews" /></blockquote>

===Reddit reports (r/printers)===
*A '''firmware update on the Brother MFC-3750''' '''disabled automatic color registration''' when third-party toner was detected.<ref name="reddit" />
*A Brother support agent confirmed that installing OEM toner would "fix" the issue instantly, proving that the printer was being artificially restricted.

===GitHub developer investigation===
*A project analyzing '''Brother firmware updates''' discovered that '''older firmware versions were removed from Brother’s servers''', making it impossible for users to roll back to a working version.<ref name="github-fwupd" />
*Another GitHub discussion showed that '''Brother firmware updates increasingly lock out more non-Brother toner cartridges with each new update!'''<ref name="github-ohbrother" />
*This is similar to [[HP Dynamic Security]] which block non-OEM cartridges.

===Quality Example===
[[File:Brother HL-L9310CDW 1.69 1.32 before registration deleted.png|alt=Brother HL-L9310CDW 1.69 1.32, before deletion of colour registration.|none|thumb|800x800px|'''Brother HL-L9310CDW 1.69 1.32, before deletion of colour registration.''']]

==Comparison to other industry abuses==
{| class="wikitable"
!Company!!Tactic Used
|-
|'''HP'''||"Dynamic Security" firmware updates blocking non-OEM ink
|-
|'''Epson'''||Ink expiration DRM, even when cartridges are full
|-
|'''Canon'''||Firmware updates that disable scanning when ink is low
|-
|'''Brother'''||Print degradation for non-OEM toner users
|}

==Potential legal implications==
Deliberate function removal '''after purchase''' may qualify as '''deceptive trade practices''' in multiple jurisdictions.

==Mitigations available to users==
#'''Avoid Firmware Updates''' – Disable auto-updates to prevent forced function removal. This may, however, lead to security risks.
#'''Try to downgrade''' – Some users have managed to roll back firmware, though this is increasingly difficult.<ref name="github-ohbrother" />
#'''HL-L9310CDW (with firmware main 1.69, sub 1.31):''' On the menu of the printer, delete the colour registration to improve quality by reducing the misalignment of the individual colours. However, the best solution is to have a configuration option to set the offset individual (X, Y) for each colour with the smallest possible increment, perhaps through an external (CUPS) printer driver.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Brother]]
[[Category:Digital Restrictions]]
[[Category:Vendor Lock-in]]
[[Category:Post-Sale Firmware Lockouts]]

Brother printers causing issues with third party inks

2025-08-12T04:53:18Z

AnonWriter: Changed "degraded quality" to "lowered quality" to avoid strong language that could be interpreted as accusatory or harsh. Changed "Youtube" to "YouTube" and "github" to "GitHub"

{{IncidentCargo
| Company = Brother Industries Ltd.
| Type = Digital restrictions,Firmware lockout
| StartDate = 2025
| Description = Brother pushed firmware updates that degrade non-OEM toner's print quality - forcing consumers to buy more expensive genuine Brother toner
| Status = Active
| ProductLine =
| ArticleType = Product
| Product =
}}

{{ToneWarning}}
[[Brother Industries Ltd.|Brother]] has a reputation for allowing third-party toner use & being more consumer friendly than competing printer companies, such as [[HP]]. In recent years, they've implemented '''firmware updates that deliberately lower print quality when using non-OEM toner'''. These updates disable color registration & other features which encourages the use of expensive genuine Brother toner.(citation needed)

==Exploitative practices==
*'''Post-Sale Function Removal''' – Firmware updates retroactively remove previously available features, such as automatic color registration, for users using non-OEM toner.<ref name="reddit">[https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/s9b2eg Brother MFC firmware update - non-genuine toner now disables critical features.]</ref><ref name="reddit-2">[https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/w60687/brother_mfcl3370cdw_firmware_downgrade_needed/ Brother MFC-L3370CDW Firmware Downgrade needed]</ref>
*'''Vendor lock-in via DRM''' – Printers continue to function with third-party toner but print at lower quality unless OEM toner is installed.
*'''Anti-consumer software practices''' – Firmware updates cannot be easily rolled back, preventing consumers from restoring lost functionality.<ref name="github-fwupd">[https://github.com/sedrubal/brother_printer_fwupd/issues/9 Brother printer firmware downgrade discussion.]</ref>
*'''Deceptive practices''' – Printers do not reject third-party toner but intentionally cause a toner failure, which discourages use of third party toners.<ref name="hackernews">[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31860131 Tell HN: Brother printers now locking out non-OEM paraphernalia.]</ref><ref name="reddit-2" />

==How it works==
1. Consumers purchase a '''Brother laser printer''' that previously accepted third-party toner.

2. A '''firmware update (e.g., W1.56)''' is pushed, which does not notify users of any major functional changes.

3. After updating, users notice that:

*Color registration '''fails automatically''', misaligning prints.<ref name="cups">[https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/CUPS/Printer-specific_problems#Updating_the_firmware ArchWiki - Printer-specific problems with Brother.]</ref>
*Brother support acknowledges that installing OEM toner will resolve the issue instantly.<ref name="hackernews" />
*'''Older firmware versions are removed from Brother’s servers''', preventing downgrades.<ref name="github-ohbrother">[https://github.com/CauldronDevelopmentLLC/oh-brother/issues/30 Discussion on firmware rollback for Brother printers.]</ref>

==Impact on Consumer Protection==
*Customers who were able to save money buying third-party toner are now '''forced into expensive OEM toner purchases'''.
*Brother’s '''positive reputation''' for allowing third-party toner is tarnished.
*'''No prior warning''' was given to consumers before these updates were installed.
*Workarounds involve '''blocking firmware updates''' or attempting '''risky firmware downgrades''', both of which Brother actively discourages.

==Brother's response==
On March 5th 2025, following the publication of a video on the Louis Rossmann YouTube channel, Brother addressed the issue, in a response given to Ars Technica, stating the following <ref name="ars-response">[https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/brother-denies-using-firmware-updates-to-brick-printers-with-third-party-ink/ Brother denies using firmware updates to brick printers with third-party ink]</ref>
<blockquote>
We are aware of the recent false claims suggesting that a Brother firmware update may have restricted the use of third-party ink cartridges. Please be assured that Brother firmware updates do not block the use of third-party ink in our machines.
</blockquote>
They also detailed that
<blockquote>
Brother printers do not intentionally degrade print quality based on whether a Brother Genuine or non-genuine ink/ toner cartridge is used. Brother cannot verify the quality of printing that will result when using a third-party compatible with a Brother printer.
</blockquote>
Finally they attributed the confusion from consumers to
<blockquote>
Brother encourages the use of Brother Genuine ink and toner for optimal performance and reliability, and it is standard practice that we perform a Brother [G]enuine check when troubleshooting a Brother printer. Compatible supplies may range in quality, and in order to verify that a printer is working properly, we like to troubleshoot with Brother Genuine supplies. We believe this check in the process may have led to a misunderstanding[,] but as we confirmed, the firmware update would not be responsible for the degradation of quality or removal of printer features.
</blockquote>
==User evidence & reports==
===Hacker News Discussion (2022)===
*Users noticed that '''Brother printers accepted third-party toner but deliberately degraded print quality'''.
*One user stated:
<blockquote>''Brother seems to be apparently accepting the ink, but then purposefully making the print quality poorer.''<ref name="hackernews" /></blockquote>

===Reddit reports (r/printers)===
*A '''firmware update on the Brother MFC-3750''' '''disabled automatic color registration''' when third-party toner was detected.<ref name="reddit" />
*A Brother support agent confirmed that installing OEM toner would "fix" the issue instantly, proving that the printer was being artificially restricted.

===GitHub developer investigation===
*A project analyzing '''Brother firmware updates''' discovered that '''older firmware versions were removed from Brother’s servers''', making it impossible for users to roll back to a working version.<ref name="github-fwupd" />
*Another GitHub discussion showed that '''Brother firmware updates increasingly lock out more non-Brother toner cartridges with each new update!'''<ref name="github-ohbrother" />
*This is similar to [[HP Dynamic Security]] which block non-OEM cartridges.

===Quality Example===
[[File:Brother HL-L9310CDW 1.69 1.32 before registration deleted.png|alt=Brother HL-L9310CDW 1.69 1.32, before deletion of colour registration.|none|thumb|800x800px|'''Brother HL-L9310CDW 1.69 1.32, before deletion of colour registration.''']]

==Comparison to other industry abuses==
{| class="wikitable"
!Company!!Tactic Used
|-
|'''HP'''||"Dynamic Security" firmware updates blocking non-OEM ink
|-
|'''Epson'''||Ink expiration DRM, even when cartridges are full
|-
|'''Canon'''||Firmware updates that disable scanning when ink is low
|-
|'''Brother'''||Print degradation for non-OEM toner users
|}

==Potential legal implications==
Deliberate function removal '''after purchase''' may qualify as '''deceptive trade practices''' in multiple jurisdictions.

==Mitigations available to users==
#'''Avoid Firmware Updates''' – Disable auto-updates to prevent forced function removal. This may, however, lead to security risks.
#'''Try to downgrade''' – Some users have managed to roll back firmware, though this is increasingly difficult.<ref name="github-ohbrother" />
#'''HL-L9310CDW (with firmware main 1.69, sub 1.31):''' On the menu of the printer, delete the colour registration to improve quality by reducing the misalignment of the individual colours. However, the best solution is to have a configuration option to set the offset individual (X, Y) for each colour with the smallest possible increment, perhaps through an external (CUPS) printer driver.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Brother]]
[[Category:Digital Restrictions]]
[[Category:Vendor Lock-in]]
[[Category:Post-Sale Firmware Lockouts]]

Amazon to charge non-Prime consumers to use Alexa

2025-08-12T04:13:29Z

AnonWriter: Deleted comments that were flagged with an "!" due to containing personal views on the subject that may have come across as snarky or accusatory.

{{ToneWarning}}

[[Amazon]] has introduced Alexa Plus (Alexa+), an upgrade to the Alexa voice assistant that uses generative artificial intelligence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Panay |first=Panos |date=26 Feb 2025 |title=Introducing Alexa+, the next generation of Alexa |url=https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/new-alexa-generative-artificial-intelligence |website=Amazon}}</ref> The Alexa voice assistant is also available on Amazon's range of smart speakers, such as the [[Amazon Echo]].

==Background==
Consumers have widely embraced the Internet of Things (IoT) over many years, purchasing both control devices and controlled devices. Until 2025, Amazon had been content with generating revenue from device sales as sufficient payment for the IoT services offered through their Alexa platform. However, an issue arose when Amazon sought to access consumer data. Rather than restricting Alexa's functionality to basic device control (such as turning devices on and off), the company expanded the platform's capabilities from simply controlling devices to implement more data collection and monitoring to profit off of consumer data.

In March of 2025, Amazon Echo [[Amazon Echo changes terms of voice usage|changed the terms]] of voice usage, [[:File:Upcoming change to your Alexa Settings.png|removing the "Do Not Send Voice" feature]] at the same time as Alexa's capabilities were expanded with generative AI features.

==Adding a subscription cost==
Amazon is rolling out a new service called "Alexa+", analogous to the streaming channels that emerged when the entertainment industry recognized the potential profit in encouraging consumers to "cut the cord." These channels sought subscription revenue from both live broadcasts and reruns, believing that audience loyalty extended beyond specific providers. However, they discovered that viewers were more loyal to specific shows than entire channels, so many consumers were reluctant to pay for such niche channels.

Alexa+ will be available at no additional cost to Prime members. For non-Prime customers, the service will cost $19.99 per month, a notably higher fee than the $14.99 monthly cost of a Prime membership.

Should Amazon fail to successfully implement this change, it could have broad repercussions across related markets. This may greatly negatively impact Amazon and their Alexa brands, as well as the manufacturers of devices compatible with Alexa. An incident in June 2025 involved Sengled, a producer of Alexa-controlled lightbulbs, where they experienced a malfunction that caused them to suddenly stop working.
===Amazon's response===
{{Placeholder box|If applicable, add the proposed solution to the issues by the company.}}

==Lawsuit==
{{Placeholder box|If applicable, add any information regarding litigation around the incident here.

===Claims===
Main claims of the suit.

===Rebuttal===
The response of the company or counterclaims.

===Outcome===
The outcome of the suit, if any.}}

==Consumer response==
{{Placeholder box|Summary and key issues of prevailing sentiment from the consumers and commentators that can be documented via articles, emails to support, reviews and forum posts.}}

==See also==

*[[Amazon Echo changes terms of voice usage]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Amazon]]