In an unexpected turn of events, a federal judge has rejected HP's attempts to dismiss a lawsuit accusing the company of designing its all-in-one printers to disable scanning and faxing features when low on ink intentionally.
The motive? Allegedly to inflate profits by compelling consumers to purchase more ink.
The Allegations Against HP's Printers
Reuters reports that the lawsuit brought forth as a proposed class action centers on the claim that HP covertly engineered their printers to enter an "error state" once ink levels drop, even for functions that don't necessitate ink, such as scanning and faxing.
This maneuver essentially forces users into buying pricier ink cartridges, a strategy that could potentially lead to boosting the sales of ink - one of HP's major profit drivers.
U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman's recent decision to reject HP's bid to dismiss the case is a pivotal step forward for the plaintiffs. The judge not only acknowledged that there were sufficient allegations indicating HP's awareness of the defect but also highlighted a message board post where an HP support agent essentially confirmed the alleged flaw to a concerned customer.
The post stated explicitly that the printer "will not function" without ink, emphasizing the calculated design.
A Calculated Oversight?
HP, however, has not taken this legal challenge lying down. The company argued that customers failed to establish the existence of a duty on HP's part to disclose the defect or to show that any "active" concealment took place.
The question remains: Did HP intentionally design its printers to malfunction when ink levels dip, or is this a byproduct of engineering that went awry?
Courthouse News Service reports that plaintiffs claim HP's intent was nothing short of a calculated maneuver to render their multi-function devices inoperable, forcing a subset of purchasers to buy additional, overpriced ink cartridges.
This alleged intention is rooted in the belief that by making these devices falter. Consumers would feel compelled to invest in more ink cartridges to regain full functionality.
Implications
The ramifications of this lawsuit reach beyond just courtroom drama. HP's printing products, including printers and accompanying supplies, accounted for a staggering $18.9 billion, or 30%, of its $63 billion revenue in the year ending October 2022. Such figures underscore the magnitude of this alleged strategy's financial impact.
Moreover, this is not HP's first time being entangled in printer-related legal battles. In 2020, the company settled a $1.5 million lawsuit accusing it of designing printers with software that curtailed their capabilities when loaded with third-party ink cartridges. The tech giant has also been at the receiving end of similar lawsuits in Europe, shelling out a hefty $1.35 million in one instance.
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