Brother Industries Ltd.: Difference between revisions
case study updated |
No edit summary |
||
(16 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{ | {{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. | 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. | ||
Line 23: | Line 28: | ||
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. | 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 | '''Sent''': 27/01/2025 12:04pm | ||
Line 52: | Line 68: | ||
At your side, | At your side, | ||
Mike | '''Mike''' | ||
Customer Care USA | |||
Line 70: | Line 86: | ||
Upon checking on the resource that's available to us the only information regarding the update is just: | 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. | *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. | 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. | 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. | ||
Line 100: | Line 116: | ||
Customer Care Team | 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: | 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. | #'''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 these companies. | #'''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. | #'''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] | #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] | #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. | #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. | #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. | #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: | [[Category:Brother]] | ||