Ink Cartridges with Built-In Self-Destruct Dates

Linker3000 writes "The Inquirer has an article about HP ink cartridges having a built-in expiry date that can cause them to become unusable even if they aren't empty! Another twist on the 'chipped cartridge' stories--and also another kick in the teeth (and wallet) for the consumer methinks." This isn't really a new problem - here's a good piece about the problem.

Software patch

[PFactor]

I bet some bright soul figures out how to patch a system to bypass this silliness. ...
In other news, a bright soul has just been charged with a DCMA violation by HP.

That stinks

[countach]

I know what I'd do. I'd go down the shop and buy a new one. Then I'd return the old one with the receipt and explain that it's defective - full of ink but not working.

Irony

[PFactor]

Since I'm not a subscriber (I know, I'm a llama), I get ads in the stories. The ad for this story is for an HP handheld device.

The tagline?

HP- Invent

AND IN OTHER NEWS...

[Anonymous Coward]

The RIAA has successfully sued a man for $197,000,000 for illegally humming a copyrighted recording...

DANGER!

[kinnell]

THIS INK CARTRIDGE WILL SELF DESTRUCT IN 5 SECONDS...

5...

"err... does anyone know how to change ink cartridges? Please"

4...

"Ok don't panic. It's probably under this cover somewhere"

3...

"shit, only 3 seconds to find the bloody thing. Why oh why didn't I read the user manual?"

2...

"Aha - that looks like it"

1...

"Just about got it out..."

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP POP

"eeewwwwhh"

Open Source Hardware

[dsmoses]

Since Open Source Software has worked so well to alleviate software company licensing and questionable tactics. How long will it take for Open Source Hardware to catch on?

Re:Congratulations!

[Kosi]

They violate the buyer's-obligation-law, which forces you to buy consumables supplies for printers, even when you don't need them. So, wtf should we care about them?

The Brady Law

[AtariAmarok]

"With cars, it's illegal to do this (Brady law I think)."

Does the Brady Law on cars mean that there is a 3-day waiting period if you want to buy a Chevy Beretta?

Re:Cannon

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow, an inkjet cannon. Sounds like fun [xinventions.com].

Or did you mean Canon?

OOhh great

[WebfishUK]

Will my printer begin to sing "Daisy" as I take a screwdriver to the cartridge?

Re:It's a free market.

[nathanh]

Problem is that once a company like HP sets a presidence like this others will think they can follow.

Does there have to be an election before you can have a presidence?

Here's a new idea for you HP

[calethix]

My Rio has this problem of draining the battery if I leave it in so a new battery will go dead after a couple weeks even if I don't use it. Maybe you could design a printer with a really big ink well and a cartridge that would slowly leak into it while not in use. Then people would either have to remove the cartridge between use and store it upside down or replace it every couple of weeks.

Gee, I really should start my own business with all of this innovative thinking.

Re:The Brady Law

[Zeinfeld]

Does the Brady Law on cars mean that there is a 3-day waiting period if you want to buy a Chevy Beretta?

Hey, tell that one to Ariana Huffington, a 3 day cooling off period for purchasers of SUV's!

Could join it to Megan's law, force SUV owners to place a sign on their front lawn 'environmental disaster area lives here'.

Re:Time To Expiration

[hendridm]

> Nope, last week, I actually replaced a 7 year old cartridge from my HPDeskjet 510 (bought in Nov1993) ... HP has sold me a printer for the last time, next one will be another brand...

Perhaps this will inspire change. After all, it's repeat customers like yourself that HP relies on... ;)

It's not the printer companies' fault!

[Tokerat]

The reason for all the ink cartridge price fixing is due to the fact that the printer companies want to have enough money saved up to defend themselves in court when the MPAA sues them for providing "devices which can be used for the piracy of a single frame of copyrighted motion picture material".

Damn HP and their cirrcumvention devices.

In other news...(parody)

[dcavanaugh]

Microsoft mice now to include odometer so users may not exceed the specified mileage limits as defined in the EULA.

Better analogy

[Smallpond]

No, wait. A better analogy is if God decided the world had expired and made the Sun go supernova.

Or no, an even better analogy is if an ant is painting a masterpiece using Bob Ross oil paint and looks down and sees that the tube of paint has expired, and says "oh, no"

Or wait an even better analogy is if two people are arguing and one of them sees that the other's analogy has expired. Then he says, "Here, use mine"

Freedom of Expression

[Lucky Kevin]

I looked at this page and the advertisment at the top, just below the introduction, was one for HP saying "Exercise your freedom of expression."

Ok HP, you suck for doing this!

I have just bought an all-in-one from HP and am very pleased with it but I have this chip in my cartridge. The argument is that they want to ensure that you get top quality prints but I think that that is something that I should be able to decide for myself.

Re:It's a free market.

[pclminion]

They're playing with fire if they do that; printer manufacturers are already under investigation for anticompetitive practices by the EU. If they have any sense, they'll back off fast.

But how can a judge indict them if they control the printers the indictments are printed with? ;-)