Brother printers causing issues with third party inks: Difference between revisions
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==Brother Printer Firmware Lockouts & Print Degradation== | ==Brother Printer Firmware Lockouts & Print Degradation== | ||
===Summary=== | ===Summary=== | ||
Brother used to be known for allowing third-party toner use & being less consumer hostile than companies such as HP. In recent years, they've implemented '''firmware updates that deliberately degrade print quality when using non-OEM toner'''. These updates disable color registration & other features which coerces consumers into buying expensive genuine Brother toner. | [[Brother Industries, Ltd.|Brother]] used to be known for allowing third-party toner use & being less consumer hostile than companies such as HP. In recent years, they've implemented '''firmware updates that deliberately degrade print quality when using non-OEM toner'''. These updates disable color registration & other features which coerces consumers into buying expensive genuine Brother toner. | ||
===Nature of Exploitation=== | ===Nature of Exploitation=== | ||
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3. After updating, users notice that: | 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> | *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 '''admits''' that installing OEM toner will resolve the issue instantly.<ref name="hackernews" /> | *Brother support '''admits''' 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> | *'''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> | ||
===Real-World Impact=== | ===Real-World Impact=== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Brother]] | |||
[[Category:Digital Restrictions]] | |||
[[Category:Vendor Lock-in]] | |||
[[Category:Post-Sale Firmware Lockouts]] | |||
Revision as of 08:16, 3 March 2025
Brother Printer Firmware Lockouts & Print Degradation
Summary
Brother used to be known for allowing third-party toner use & being less consumer hostile than companies such as HP. In recent years, they've implemented firmware updates that deliberately degrade print quality when using non-OEM toner. These updates disable color registration & other features which coerces consumers into buying expensive genuine Brother toner.
Nature of Exploitation
- Post-Sale Function Removal – Firmware updates retroactively remove previously available features, such as automatic color registration, for users using non-OEM toner.[1]
- Vendor Lock-in via DRM – Printers continue to function with third-party toner but print at degraded quality unless OEM toner is installed.
- Anti-Consumer Software Practices – Firmware updates cannot be easily rolled back, preventing consumers from restoring lost functionality.[2]
- Deceptive Practices – Printers do not outright reject third-party toner but instead engineer a failure, misleading users into thinking their toner is defective.[3]
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.[4]
- Brother support admits that installing OEM toner will resolve the issue instantly.[3]
- Older firmware versions are removed from Brother’s servers, preventing downgrades.[5]
Real-World Impact
- Customers who used to save money buying third-party toner are now forced into expensive OEM 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.
User Evidence & Reports
Hacker News Discussion (2025)
- Users noticed that Brother printers accepted third-party toner but deliberately degraded print quality.
- One user stated:
Brother seems to be apparently accepting the ink, but then purposefully making the print quality poorer.[3]
Reddit Reports (r/printers)
- A firmware update on the Brother MFC-3750 disabled automatic color registration when third-party toner was detected.[1]
- 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.[2]
- Another github discussion showed that Brother firmware updates increasingly lock out more non-Brother toner cartridges with each new update![5]
- This is similar to HP Dynamic Security which block non-OEM cartridges.
Comparison to Other Industry Abuses
| 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
How Consumers Can Fight Back
- Avoid Firmware Updates – Disable auto-updates to prevent forced function removal.
- Try to downgrade – Some users have managed to roll back firmware, though this is increasingly difficult.[5]
- Use pen & paper – Do you really need a printer?
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Brother MFC firmware update - non-genuine toner now disables critical features.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Brother printer firmware downgrade discussion.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Tell HN: Brother printers now locking out non-OEM paraphernalia.
- ↑ ArchWiki - Printer-specific problems with Brother.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Discussion on firmware rollback for Brother printers.