Brother printers causing issues with third party inks: Difference between revisions
m categorize incident |
Title case bad!! |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
==Brother Printer | ==Brother Printer firmware lockouts & print degradation== | ||
===Summary=== | ===Summary=== | ||
[[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. | [[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 | ===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.<ref name="reddit">[https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/s9b2eg Brother MFC firmware update - non-genuine toner now disables critical features.]</ref> | *'''Post-Sale Function Removal''' – Firmware updates retroactively remove previously available features, such as automatic color registration, for users using non-OEM toner.<ref name="reddit">[https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/s9b2eg Brother MFC firmware update - non-genuine toner now disables critical features.]</ref> | ||
*'''Vendor | *'''Vendor lock-in via DRM''' – Printers continue to function with third-party toner but print at degraded quality unless OEM toner is installed. | ||
*'''Anti- | *'''Anti-consumer software practices''' – Firmware updates cannot be easily rolled back, preventing consumers from restoring lost functionality.<ref name="github-fwupd">[https://github.com/sedrubal/brother_printer_fwupd/issues/9 Brother printer firmware downgrade discussion.]</ref> | ||
*'''Deceptive | *'''Deceptive practices''' – Printers do not outright reject third-party toner but instead '''engineer a failure''', misleading users into thinking their toner is defective.<ref name="hackernews">[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31860131 Tell HN: Brother printers now locking out non-OEM paraphernalia.]</ref> | ||
===How | ===How it works=== | ||
1. Consumers purchase a '''Brother laser printer''' that previously accepted third-party toner. | 1. Consumers purchase a '''Brother laser printer''' that previously accepted third-party toner. | ||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
*'''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- | ===Real-world impact=== | ||
*Customers who used to save money buying third-party toner are now '''forced into expensive OEM purchases'''. | *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. | *Brother’s '''positive reputation''' for allowing third-party toner is tarnished. | ||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
*Workarounds involve '''blocking firmware updates''' or attempting '''risky firmware downgrades''', both of which Brother actively discourages. | *Workarounds involve '''blocking firmware updates''' or attempting '''risky firmware downgrades''', both of which Brother actively discourages. | ||
===User | ===User evidence & reports=== | ||
====Hacker News Discussion (2025)==== | ====Hacker News Discussion (2025)==== | ||
*Users noticed that '''Brother printers accepted third-party toner but deliberately degraded print quality'''. | *Users noticed that '''Brother printers accepted third-party toner but deliberately degraded print quality'''. | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
<blockquote>''Brother seems to be apparently accepting the ink, but then purposefully making the print quality poorer.''<ref name="hackernews" /></blockquote> | <blockquote>''Brother seems to be apparently accepting the ink, but then purposefully making the print quality poorer.''<ref name="hackernews" /></blockquote> | ||
====Reddit | ====Reddit reports (r/printers)==== | ||
*A '''firmware update on the Brother MFC-3750''' '''disabled automatic color registration''' when third-party toner was detected.<ref name="reddit" /> | *A '''firmware update on the Brother MFC-3750''' '''disabled automatic color registration''' when third-party toner was detected.<ref name="reddit" /> | ||
*A Brother support agent confirmed that installing OEM toner would "fix" the issue instantly, proving that the printer was being artificially restricted. | *A Brother support agent confirmed that installing OEM toner would "fix" the issue instantly, proving that the printer was being artificially restricted. | ||
====GitHub | ====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.<ref name="github-fwupd" /> | *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.<ref name="github-fwupd" /> | ||
*Another github discussion showed that '''Brother firmware updates increasingly lock out more non-Brother toner cartridges with each new update!'''<ref name="github-ohbrother" /> | *Another github discussion showed that '''Brother firmware updates increasingly lock out more non-Brother toner cartridges with each new update!'''<ref name="github-ohbrother" /> | ||
*This is similar to [[HP Dynamic Security]] which block non-OEM cartridges. | *This is similar to [[HP Dynamic Security]] which block non-OEM cartridges. | ||
===Comparison to | ===Comparison to other industry abuses=== | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
!Company!!Tactic Used | !Company!!Tactic Used | ||
| Line 54: | Line 54: | ||
|} | |} | ||
===Potential | ===Potential legal implications=== | ||
Deliberate function removal '''after purchase''' may qualify as '''deceptive trade practices''' in multiple jurisdictions | Deliberate function removal '''after purchase''' may qualify as '''deceptive trade practices''' in multiple jurisdictions | ||
=== | ===Mitigations available to users=== | ||
#'''Avoid Firmware Updates''' – Disable auto-updates to prevent forced function removal. | #'''Avoid Firmware Updates''' – Disable auto-updates to prevent forced function removal. This may, however, lead to security risks. | ||
#'''Try to downgrade''' – Some users have managed to roll back firmware, though this is increasingly difficult.<ref name="github-ohbrother" /> | #'''Try to downgrade''' – Some users have managed to roll back firmware, though this is increasingly difficult.<ref name="github-ohbrother" /> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 10:49, 4 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
Mitigations available to users
- Avoid Firmware Updates – Disable auto-updates to prevent forced function removal. This may, however, lead to security risks.
- Try to downgrade – Some users have managed to roll back firmware, though this is increasingly difficult.[5]
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.