HP Printers locking functionality behind ink availability: Difference between revisions

[[HP]] produces all-in-one printers, which are marketed as a complete solution for printing, scanning documents, and sending faxes. However, these printers enter an error state when the ink level in one of the cartridges is too low, disabling all functionalities—including scanning and faxing—even though these features do not require ink.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=15 Aug 2023 |title=Requiring ink to scan a document—yet another insult from the printer industry |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/the-printers-that-require-ink-to-scan-and-fax/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Feb 2022 |title=can't scan due to low ink. I shouldn't need ink to scan a document. Is there a work around for this? |url=https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Scanning-Faxing-Copying/can-t-scan-due-to-low-ink-I-shouldn-t-need-ink-to-scan-a/td-p/8308292 |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=[[HP]]}}</ref> HP has faced legal actions<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Shaak |first=Erin |date=1 Jul 2022 |title=Design Flaw? HP Printers Won’t Scan, Fax When Ink Is Low, Class Action Alleges |url=https://www.classaction.org/blog/design-flaw-hp-printers-wont-scan-fax-when-ink-is-low-class-action-alleges |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=ClassAction.org}}</ref><ref>https://regmedia.co.uk/2023/08/11/freund-hp-judge-order.pdf</ref> because it sells its products as all-in-one solutions but does not clearly disclose that ink is necessary to use any of the functionalities.

==Background==