Brother Industries Ltd.: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{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. | ||
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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: | 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/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] | *'''[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==== | |||
_____________________ | _____________________ | ||
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_________________ | _________________ | ||
====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: | ||
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#'''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] | ||
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#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]] | ||