In an ongoing battle between consumers and printer manufacturers, HP Inc. has failed to dismiss a class-action lawsuit claiming that it disables the scanners on its inkjet printers when the ink runs low. The lawsuit alleges that HP intentionally withholds information from consumers to boost profits from the sale of expensive ink cartridges. This practice has sparked outrage among consumers who argue that scanning and faxing functions should still work even without ink. HP’s attempt to have the lawsuit thrown out was rejected by a federal judge, allowing the case to proceed and potentially shedding light on a common industry practice.

Printer ink has long been known for its exorbitant prices, with Consumer Reports stating that ink costs can easily surpass $70 per year. Moreover, a significant amount of ink is wasted on printer maintenance cycles, resulting in less ink being used for actual document printing. In a study conducted by Consumer Reports, many all-in-one inkjet printers delivered less than half of their ink to printed documents, with some models using as little as 20% to 30% of the ink. This issue extends beyond HP, as Canon Inc. faced a similar lawsuit in 2021, which was settled in late 2022. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, leaving consumers wondering if other printer manufacturers employ the same deceptive practices.

HP Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Disabled Scanners

HP Inc. has been ordered to face a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of disabling scanning and faxing functions on its “all-in-one” inkjet printers when a single ink cartridge runs low. The company had attempted to dismiss the lawsuit on legal grounds, but a federal judge ruled against them.

The plaintiffs argue that it is well-documented that ink is not necessary for scanning or faxing documents, and that HP intentionally designs its printers to only work when ink is present. This lack of disclosure, they claim, is a deliberate strategy to boost profits from the sale of expensive ink cartridges.

Color printers, in particular, require four ink cartridges, including one black and a set of three cartridges for producing colors. Some printers will even refuse to print if one of the color cartridges is low, even in black-and-white mode.

HP has declined to comment on the issue due to the pending litigation, and their court filings have not addressed the substance of the plaintiff’s allegations.

The Cost of Printer Ink

All-in-one inkjet printers are often seen as a cost-effective option compared to buying separate devices for scanning, copying, and faxing. For example, HP currently sells its all-in-one OfficeJet Pro 8034e for just $159, while its least expensive standalone scanner, the ScanJet Pro s2, costs $369.

However, the cost of printer ink can quickly add up. Consumer Reports states that printer ink is “wildly expensive,” with annual ink costs easily exceeding $70. Additionally, a significant amount of ink is never actually used for printing because it is consumed by printer maintenance cycles.

Consumer Reports tested hundreds of all-in-one inkjet printers in 2018 and found that many models delivered less than half of their ink to printed documents, with some models using as little as 20% to 30% of the ink.

Similar Legal Complaints

HP is not the only company facing legal complaints regarding disabled functions on all-in-one printers. Canon Inc., the printer and camera maker, was sued by a different set of plaintiffs in 2021 for similar allegations. The case was settled in late 2022, but the terms were not disclosed.

These lawsuits highlight the frustration and financial burden that consumers face when it comes to printer ink. With printers designed to disable functions when ink is low, consumers are forced to purchase expensive cartridges or deal with limited functionality.

In the case of HP, the class-action lawsuit will proceed, and the company will have to face the claims made against them.

Short takeaways:

• HP Inc. must face a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of disabling scanning and faxing functions on its inkjet printers when ink runs low.
• Plaintiffs claim that HP intentionally designs its printers to only work when ink is present, without disclosing this information to consumers.
• Printer ink is expensive, with annual costs exceeding $70, and a significant amount of ink is wasted on maintenance cycles.
• Canon Inc. also faced similar legal complaints, which were settled in late 2022.