Lexmark sues maker of toner cartridge chips

Associated Press / SFGate

[RCW2001]

Friday, January 10, 2003
©2003 Associated Press

URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/01/10/financial1337EST0154.DTL

(01-10) 10:37 PST (AP) --

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dow Jones/AP) -- Lexmark International Inc. said a court issued a temporary order requiring Static Control Components Inc. to stop making and selling microchips that enable the use of off-brand toner cartridges in some Lexmark laser printers.

Lexmark late Thursday said the order is in effect until its motion for a preliminary injunction is heard by the federal district court in Kentucky.

Lexmark's complaint alleges the Smartek microchips incorporate infringing copies of Lexmark's software and are being sold by Static Control to defeat Lexmark's technological controls.

A spokesperson for the Static Control, a Sanford, N.C., maker of static shielding and dry packaging components wasn't immediately available for comment.

Printer manufacturers, who make much of their profit from toner and ink cartridges, have been trying to curb increasing sales of aftermarket cartridges.

©2003 Associated Press  

[mommadooo3]

I have a lexmark printer.....up until a few months ago I would SWEAR by one. NOT any more. They put some stoooopid chip in the ink cartridges, that causes them to shut themselves down after so many uses/days. I am now owning 2+2(color/black) HALF FULL cartridges that are useless.

Anyone wanna buy a printer...cheap? LOL.

[Arkinsaw]

Some companies sell really cheap printers and then sell you printer cartridges at outrageous prices. I have no idea if Lexmark is one of them....

[Revelation 911]

I have a lexmark printer.....up until a few months ago I would SWEAR by one. NOT any more. They put some stoooopid chip in the ink cartridges, that causes them to shut themselves down after so many uses/days. I am now owning 2+2(color/black) HALF FULL cartridges that are useless.

My epson is the same

[Grig]

Epson does this too. I just got a Cannon S520, it doesn't have it but the newer Cannon do. They are all trying to do this. With some Epson's you can get software that allows you to reset the chip in the cartridge so you can refill it and other hack/tools are or will be developed for other printers because nobody likes this.

Basicly they need to change their marketing plan. Make a good printer, charge what you should for it, and allow competition on the ink side of the business. This is like GM trying to force you to only fill up at the dealership.

[Bluntpoint]

Is that why my color cartridge just stopped printing? I refilled it a couple of weeks ago, two days ago it stopped completely. It did not start to fade or streak. It just stopped. Cartridge still feels full.

[dfwgator]

It's nothing new. Gillette started it many years ago by selling razors cheap, then making money on the blades.

[Mo1]

PLEASE SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC

Donate Here By Secure Server

Or mail checks to
FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794
or you can use
PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com

Become A Monthly Donor
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD

[Petronski]

Xerox does this with their copiers too. Result: No more Xerox for me.

[jern]

Being in NC, I know the owner and people of Static Control. Good people.

[Revelation 911]

..........I discovered this AFTER I bought a refill kit I cant use

[Petronski]

They sound like good people. I don't mind "Give'm the Razor, sell'm the blades" at all, as long as the blade doesn't include a timer that makes it useless after a set time (dull or not). That's insulting.

[yarddog]

I don't know the legal technicalities but it just seems reasonable that when I purchase the printer, then it belongs to me. I should be able to refill it with whatever I want.

If the cartridge contains some kind of scientific breakthrough then fine, but just to make sure you have to purchase their cartridge seems like it would be an illegal restraint of trade, not to mention just a lousey business practice.

[Dan(9698)]

Ultimately the printer manufacturers will lose this. Car manufacturers tried this with replacement parts years ago. It didn't work then and it will not work now.

[Bluntpoint]

I purchased an after market mouse for my computer. How many clicks do I have left?

[Sacajaweau]

Ah, ha!! So that was the problem with my daughters printer. Thanks for the technical info. I'll look into her new one, too which I also believe is a Lexmark.

I have my old printer, a Lexmark Z42, and a pint of ink.

[AlexW]

I am glad to see this thread....I am now scrathing my head,
trying to decide if I buy a new Lexmark for about $60, or spend $70 for new ink to go in an old HP 670 deskjet.

It is rediculous that they want to give away the machine, and charge a fortune for the stupid ink.

[AlexW]

I am glad to see this thread....I am now scrathing my head,
trying to decide if I buy a new Lexmark for about $60, or spend $70 for new ink to go in an old HP 670 deskjet.

It is rediculous that they want to give away the machine, and charge a fortune for the stupid ink.

[Flashman_at_the_charge]

Excellent anology.

[Flashman_at_the_charge]

Let's try that again. :-)

Excellent analogy.