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[[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 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.
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==
==Consumer impact summary==
===DSF & DRM: a misuse of market power===
[[File:Brother Refresh.png|thumb|247x247px]]
[[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].  
Brother non-industrial printers & copiers hold the third largest market share in the Asia Pacific region<ref>{{Cite web |title=Printers & Copiers - Australia |url=https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/consumer-electronics/computing/printers-copiers/australia |url-status=live |access-date=29 Aug 2025 |website=Statista Market Forecast}}</ref> 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, Officeworks, Brother is the most represented brand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Printers |url=https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/c/technology/printers |url-status=live |access-date=29 Aug 2025 |website=Officeworks}}</ref>  


End users have reported that Brother has initiated various methods to limit or reduce functionality on many printers prior and during usage. This includes:
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.
*'''3rd party consumable lockout''' on various printer models<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 Jul 2023 |title=Brother started locking out third party cartridges by firmware updates apparently |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36679980 |url-status=live |access-date=29 Aug 2025 |website=Hacker News}}</ref>{{More citations needed}}
*'''[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.
*'''Reduction in print capacity''' via software, firmware and hardware<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Shaak |first=Erin |date=16 Oct 2018 |title=Class Action Claims Brother International Designed Laser Printers to Require Premature Toner Replacement |url=https://www.classaction.org/news/class-action-claims-brother-international-designed-laser-printers-to-require-premature-toner-replacement |url-status=live |access-date=29 Aug 2025 |website=ClassAction.org}}</ref>
*'''[https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/18c1hmm/mfcl3750cdwmfcl3760cdw_vs_mf655cdw/ Disabling of functionality]''' via print counters, software and firmware.
*'''Disabling of functionality''' via print counters, software and firmware<ref>{{Cite web |title=MFC-L3750CDW/MFC-L3760CDW vs MF655Cdw |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/18c1hmm/comment/lq8x81g/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Aug 2025 |website=r/printers}}</ref>{{More citations needed}}
*'''Nagware''' screens or pop-ups indicating firmware or software should be updated.
*'''Nagware''' screens or pop-ups indicating firmware or software should be updated
*'''[https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/35qvkyx3 Limited or obfuscated information]''' regarding effects of software or firmware update implementation.
*'''Limited or obfuscated information''' regarding effects of software or firmware update implementation<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=22 Mar 2025 |title=Brother MFC-3750CDW won't accept non-genuine ink? |url=https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/35qvkyx3 |url-status=live |access-date=29 Aug 2025 |website=Whirlpool}}</ref>{{More citations needed}}
 
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.


==Incidents==
==Incidents==
Listed models, links and issue cases from users experiencing restrictive implementation:
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]
*'''TN620''' Laser Toner: print counter reduces copy capacity<ref name=":0" />
*'''[https://www.brother-usa.com/products/mfcl3750cdw MFC-3750CDW]''' All-in-One Printer: [https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/35qvkyx3 3rd party cartridge rejection]
*'''MFC-3750CDW''' All-in-One Printer: 3rd party cartridge rejection<ref name=":1" />
*Cartridge Battery Prevents Ink Usage: '''[[DCP 3550 CDW Cartridge Failure|DCP 3550 CDW Cartridge Failure]]'''
*Cartridge Battery Prevents Ink Usage: '''[[DCP 3550 CDW Cartridge Failure|DCP 3550 CDW Cartridge Failure]]'''
*MFC-L2750DW All-in-One Printer: 3rd party cartridge rejection


==References==
==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.
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[[Category:Brother]]
[[Category:Brother]]
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