Jump to content
Main menu
Main menu
move to sidebar
hide
Navigation
Main page
Categories
Random page
Top Contributors
Recent changes
Contribute
Create a page
How to help
Wiki policy
Adapt videos to articles
Articles in need of work
Help
Frequently asked questions
Join the discord!
Help about MediaWiki
Consumer Rights Wiki
Search
Search
Appearance
Create account
Log in
Personal tools
Create account
Log in
Pages for logged out editors
learn more
Contributions
Talk
Editing
Brother Industries Ltd.
Page
Discussion
English
Read
Edit
Edit source
View history
Tools
Tools
move to sidebar
hide
Actions
Read
Edit
Edit source
View history
Purge cache
General
What links here
Related changes
Special pages
Page information
Cargo data
Appearance
move to sidebar
hide
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
{{InfoboxCompany | Name = Brother Industries Ltd. | Type = Public | Founded = 1908 | Industry = Printers, Machinery | Official Website = https://global.brother/ | Logo = Brother logo.svg }} [[wikipedia:Brother_Industries|'''Brother Industries, Ltd.''']] manufactures and sells communications and printing equipment in Japan, the Americas, Europe, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, Africa, and internationally. It operates through Printing & Solutions, Machinery, Domino, Nissei, Personal & Home, and Network & Contents segments. Brother has faced consumer criticism and regulatory action, having been criticized for practices that allegedly reduce choice, obfuscate information and accelerate product obsolescence. ==Consumer impact summary== ===DSF & DRM: a misuse of market power=== [[File:Brother Refresh.png|thumb|247x247px]] Brother non-industrial printers & copiers hold the [https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/consumer-electronics/computing/printers-copiers/australia third largest market share] in the Asia Pacific region and are a popular choice for home and small business users. Brother's monochromatic, colour, multi-function, laser and inkjet printers offer a low-price entry and are sold at most large box retailers where consumables such as toners and cartridges are also readily available. Within the printer category at the largest office and stationery retailer in Australia: [https://www.wesfarmers.com.au/our-businesses/officeworks Officeworks], Brother is the [https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/c/technology/printers most represented brand]. Officeworks has 170 locations and largely dominates the market. This gives Brother a significant presence within the retail and on-line buying space and adds to the demand for servicing, repair and ink & toner replacements for their machines. End users have reported that Brother has initiated various methods to limit or reduce functionality on many printers prior and during usage. This includes: *'''[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36679980 3rd party consumable lockout]''' on various printer models. *'''[https://www.classaction.org/news/class-action-claims-brother-international-designed-laser-printers-to-require-premature-toner-replacement Reduction in print capacity]''' via software, firmware and hardware. *'''[https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/18c1hmm/mfcl3750cdwmfcl3760cdw_vs_mf655cdw/ Disabling of functionality]''' via print counters, software and firmware. *'''Nagware''' screens or pop-ups indicating firmware or software should be updated (see case study below). *'''[https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/35qvkyx3 Limited or obfuscated information]''' regarding effects of software or firmware update implementation. This follows similar practices from manufacturers like '''HP''' forcing a "[https://www.pcworld.com/article/1656073/these-hp-printers-can-be-upgraded-to-allow-third-party-printer-ink.html Dynamic Security Feature]" (DSF) and '''Dymo''' implementing "[https://www.onlinelabels.com/articles/alternative-label-printers-to-dymo Digital Rights Management]" (DRM) via firmware updates thus limiting the end user to officially sanctioned replacement parts only. ==Incidents== Listed models, links and issue cases from users experiencing restrictive implementation: *'''[https://www.brother-usa.com/products/tn620 TN620]''' Laser Toner: [https://www.classaction.org/news/class-action-claims-brother-international-designed-laser-printers-to-require-premature-toner-replacement print counter reduces copy capacity] *'''[https://www.brother-usa.com/products/mfcl3750cdw MFC-3750CDW]''' All-in-One Printer: [https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/35qvkyx3 3rd party cartridge rejection] *Cartridge Battery Prevents Ink Usage: '''[[DCP 3550 CDW Cartridge Failure|DCP 3550 CDW Cartridge Failure]]''' ===Case Study: HL-L2395DW=== We present here the following email transcript to clarify whether Brother acknowledges functionality alteration via firmware updates. ====Start Transcript==== _____________________ '''Sent''': 27/01/2025 12:04pm '''Firmware Changelog: additional detail required prior to update''' Our business runs a print station with the HL-L2395DW model. Recently we have a "Firmware Update Available" notification on the LCD touchscreen but we cannot find any detailed information from Brother on what the update actually implements. As this machine is working as intended we are hesitant to confirm the update before understanding what features / benefits this may add and are looking for Brother to provide further information before proceeding. Could you please provide answers to the following questions: #''What features / benefits are added or reduced with this firmware?'' #''Does the firmware change any privacy related policies such as the collection of our business data?'' #''Does the firmware change the current functioning of the printer in any way?'' #''Does the firmware limit or restrict the future functioning of the printer in any way?'' #''Does the firmware limit or restrict the use of 3rd party consumables in any way? eg. toner, drum, etc.'' #''Are we able to rollback to a previous firmware version if we find the new firmware unsuitable?'' '''Received''': 28/01/25 5:31am from '''Customer Support Brother''' USA Dear (redacted), This email support is based in the USA. Firmware versions sometimes have regional variations, so we would recommend contacting [https://www.brother.com.au/en/support/contact Brother support in Australia]. We rarely get more details than "Improvement to help with the performance of the machine". At your side, '''Mike''' Customer Care USA '''Sent''': 28/01/25 8:58am Emailed Brother Australia (through webpage) as per original and as per USA support advice. '''Received''': 28/01/25 4:38pm from '''Brother International''' (Aust) Hi (redacted), Thank you for your email. Upon checking on the resource that's available to us the only information regarding the update is just: *Improvement to help with the performance of the machine. I actually advise our customers '''that it's not necessary to update the firmware''' unless the machine is experiencing an issue, also because updating the firmware is very delicate and can damage the machine if there's a sudden power outage while updating. Since your machine is working fine, you should be good even you don't update to the latest firmware as this is just for some minor bug fixes (if there is) and minor performance improvement. Also to answer your questions: 1. What features / benefits are added or reduced with this firmware? '''Minor performance improvement''' 2. Does the firmware change any privacy related policies such as the collection of our business data? '''No''' 3. Does the firmware change the current functioning of the printer in any way? '''No''' 4. Does the firmware limit or restrict the future functioning of the printer in any way? '''No''' 5. Does the firmware limit or restrict the future servicing of the printer in any way? '''No''' 6. Does the firmware limit or restrict the use of 3rd party consumables in any way? eg. toner, drum, etc. '''No''' 7. Are we able to rollback to a previous firmware version if we find the new firmware unsuitable? '''Unfortunately, as of the moment No''' Hope I was able to answer your concern. '''John''' Customer Care Team _________________ ====End Transcript==== As clarified above, there is no detail customer support can add as to what additional functionality (if any) is implemented in these firmware updates - there is currently no way to roll back an update should something change or not work. ===Solution: AIR=== Currently the most practical way to halt this type of deceptive manufacturer behaviour is to: #'''Abstain''' from supporting companies that are known to engage in anti-consumer practice. #'''Inform''' the community if the product you own is affected by any of the practices implemented by these companies. #'''Research''' BEFORE you buy, use or update your product. ==References== #Australian Consumer Law: [https://www.australiancontractlaw.info/legislation/acl/s18 S18] [https://www.australiancontractlaw.info/legislation/acl/s29 S29] [https://search.brave.com/search?q=Section+33+ACL&summary=1&conversation=56f05611ce985b6dcfa673 S33] #HP PPS Australia Legal Case: [https://www.accc.gov.au/public-registers/undertakings-registers/hp-pps-australia-pty-ltd undertaking] [https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/hp-to-compensate-printer-customers outcome] #Additional Firmware Help: [https://www.ldproducts.com/blog/are-printer-manufacturers-using-firmware-updates-to-stop-you-from-saving/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=721c5b1402242039a43fd9db58c69d96478fd636-1587348298-0-AVzp_rDX1hwKyEN-a4g3xUqArsbv9uFGHKdURxOtNmJl5Op4gC1pNXU-SRDbpFsdDd1vYQhzT1l0ox_nr7Zb3emA5JK9WATiEWVDTMsGkXc8c4Wv21IXp8FLsDafTRb4fDa2Ko9Z_Das0RcjPDzLx2yYg1CVju4Rcd-_ah5s8EX0uyhWFU2JRb5vXd6KKjyRrBEsP1zOlWusu3xpPQ6oKTQ8nyQQ_29uW0wQHh5osgNhRJ2WupNtWhKzbQm-h5u2DLrZ13HCeh0x9al6X9NbmHlWg-EzyWSJ9Ztkl6OPrgh-Bski-jjTH9o7FQE4-1C1bDKDc_2tl2TDFbMX2mlZkb6wY_K9X6Prk--8SCbouJikFV3VmO8AHUH68wr8oKiAloFqU1-viu4g3CKIkUxLLVW4w4Q4D71s8AwuArl3eO6tbZbIVLHU3ZO2oV8-ZNqHWQ LD Blog] #Statistica: [https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/consumer-electronics/computing/printers-copiers/australia Printers & Copiers - Australia Overview] Retrieved January 28, 2025. #Shaak, Erin (October 11, 2018). [https://www.classaction.org/news/class-action-claims-brother-international-designed-laser-printers-to-require-premature-toner-replacement "Class Action Claims Brother International Designed Laser Printers to Require Premature Toner Replacement"]. ClassAction.org. Retrieved January 28, 2025. #Edwards, Jessy (August 19, 2024) [https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/electronics/hps-software-update-made-printers-incompatible-with-other-ink-cartridges-class-action-alleges/ "HP agrees to settlement in overpriced, incompatible ink cartridge class action"]. Top Class Actions. Retrieved January 28, 2025. {{reflist}} [[Category:Brother]]
Summary:
Please note that all contributions to Consumer Rights Wiki are considered to be released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (see
Consumer Rights Wiki:Copyrights
for details). If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly and redistributed at will, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource.
Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!
To protect the wiki against automated edit spam, we kindly ask you to solve the following hCaptcha:
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Template:InfoboxCompany
(
view source
) (protected)
Template:Nowrap
(
edit
)
Template:Reflist
(
edit
)