[ale] ink expired?!?!?

[Paul Cartwright]

On Friday 12 January 2007 09:04, James P. Kinney III wrote:
> HP has now put in an expiration date in the ink cartridges so the
> printer quits working if you haven't replaced the cartridges in several
> months.
>
> I have a very expensive multi-function HP OfficeJet 9300 that uses
> separate ink tanks and separate print heads. The ink tanks STILL HAVE
> INK!!!
http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/ink-jet-printer-cartridges
If you have purchased an inkjet printer in the past four years, it may be 
unnecessarily shutting down before the ink cartridge is empty. Printers 
manufactured by the following companies may be engaging in unfair business 
practices by not allowing the consumer to use all the ink they have 
purchased:

    * inkjet printer cartridge lawsuitHewlett Packard (HP)
    * Lexmark
    * Canon
    * Dell
    * Brother 

In 2002, a class action lawsuit was filed against Lexmark because they were 
forcing consumers to use only their ink. In April 2006, Epson settled class 
action lawsuits that alleged a ?substantial? amount of ink remained in Epson 
ink jet cartridges at the time that the printer indicated the cartridge was 
empty. Epson agreed to give a $45 credit to consumers who purchased an Epson 
inkjet printer between April 8, 1999 and May 8, 2006.

Currently, other companies are trying to do the same: their ink cartridges 
include a computer chip that holds expiry information and monitors ink usage. 
Referred to in the re-manufacturing industry as a ?killer chip?, it prevents 
re-manufacturers from making compatible cartridges and forced expiry on the 
cartridge prevents the consumer from using a third party cartridge.
-- 
Paul Cartwright
registered Linux user #... oh I forget!