What's this about cold fusion and the Holy Grail...? Sometimes I love being wrong, and this is one of those times. It seems the pressure from users and specialized media was strong enough for Hewlett-Packard to give a more forceful response to its "firmwaregate". Although the company has used expressions like "confusion" and "provide the best experience", it confirmed that it will release an optional firmware update that removes the DRM, though that doesn't mean the underlying strategy will be modified.
A small victory, at least for those users who on September 13 found themselves with a giant plastic paperweight next to their desks. That day, the blocking function of alternative cartridges was activated on several models of the Officejet series that Hewlett-Packard sells. Complaints multiplied in official forums, the press quickly caught wind of the scandal, the EFF demanded a public apology, and now comes the official response from the company.
The Official Response
The text is titled "Dedicated to the best printing experience" and was written by HP's COO, Jon Flaxman. As expected, the statement begins by talking about a "confusion" regarding a firmware, and according to HP, all that was done was to "update an authentication process" aimed at guaranteeing the best printing experience for consumers and protecting them from "counterfeits that do not have an original HP security chip and violate intellectual property".
HP recognizes that the latest firmware distributed includes a "dynamic security function" that interrupts the operation of "untested cartridges made by third parties that use cloned chips" and that it should have done a better job communicating the effects of that function. In an attempt to improve the situation for the "low number of affected customers", HP will issue an optional firmware update that should be ready within two weeks. Those who want to follow the news about that firmware can click here, but for now there isn't much to see. Personally, I think two weeks is too long a period, and it amounts to printers out of action for a month.
Still, this firmware stands out as an exception. The very fact of being "optional" confirms it, but HP adds in its statement that it "will continue to use security measures" to improve the quality of the experience for its customers, maintain the integrity of its printing systems, and protect its intellectual property. In other words, HP reserves the right to reintroduce DRM in a future update. The EFF expressed joy at the announcement of the new firmware, but stressed that many questions remain about the process, and that the industry could learn from HP's mistakes. That said, how has your experience been with alternative cartridges? Do you refill casually or commercially? Have you adopted laser technology to never look back? The comments are open.
