this post was submitted on 14 Mar 2026
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HP's ink-blocking firmware may violate new global sustainability rules (www.techspot.com)
submitted 3 days ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/technology@lemmy.world
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HP's long-running use of firmware updates that block third-party ink and toner cartridges is drawing scrutiny again – this time under a new global sustainability standard that explicitly forbids the practice.

The International Imaging Technology Council (Int'l ITC), a trade group for cartridge remanufacturers, says HP's latest printer firmware rollout conflicts with the requirements of the General Electronics Council's (GEC) updated Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, or EPEAT 2.0.

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[–] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Didn’t expect this in my search results

Inkjet printers are prone to clogging when they aren't used regularly. The print heads have microscopic nozzles that can dry out and block, leading to poor print quality, streaks, or missing colors. To keep them clear, it's essential to run a small amount of ink through them periodically.

InkjetStandby solves this problem with a simple, yearly solution. Each week, we provide a printable page with a tiny, multi-colour test pattern. The pattern is placed in a different position each week on a 52-grid layout, allowing you to use a single sheet of paper for an entire year. Just print the page, and you're done.

(emphasis mine)

Was looking for a weekly cron script as an example of the ink drying issue being prevalent, but this is neat

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 day ago

I know it's prevalent. I'm just surprised it never happened to me. Neither printer was a particularly high end model either.