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  

[On the Road to Serfdom]

I don't own the printer and I generally don't like lawsuits but any chance of a class action lawsuit here? If they actually put a chip in to disable it before the ink runs out without notifying everyone before arn't they cheating people out of the ink they purchased?

[KneelBeforeZod]

I have a cannon s450... found aftermarket ink for $4.90

haven't tried them yet though, but my ink low warning just started....might have an update soon.

Now I know why grocery stores were selling rebranded lexmark printers for $30

[Lee'sGhost]

Is THAT what's going on!!! Damn, I've got two full cartriges I refilled and then quit. Thank you for clearing that up. Now, how do I thwart their greedy system?

[Bluntpoint]

I think we should send these companies blank letters in protest.

[RCW2001]

I have a Lexmark Z32 that I have had good luck with recharging the cartridges. Charged the black ink twice and color once...

Maybe that model doesn't have the chip. Wonder if there is a website that lists the chip vs. non-chip printers?

[afraidfortherepublic]

Index

[yarddog]

Wal-Mart is selling a Lexmark printer which has a color ink cartridge included for $28 plus some odd cents.

If you have to replace the cartridge, it sells for nearly $40. It is sort of like the watches they sell in some stores for one dollar. If the battery goes out, they charge $3 for the battery.

[Redcloak]

We bought a new HP a few weeks ago because it was only a little more expensive than a new ink cartridge for the Canon we had.

[Fractal Trader]

Sounds like an argument for disposable printers! Why pay for a new cartridge if it costs more than the printer?

[yarddog]

As a matter of fact I have several old printers which I bought at Goodwill etc. for $5 or less just to get the cartridges in them.

I even bought a couple of Lexmark 32's which Wallyworld had on clearance for $30 just to get the two ink cartridges and the "$80" worth of paper, software etc. which was packaged with them. The printers are sitting in the garage. Don't know what to do with them.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks, my ancient IBM 4019 Laser Printer is still working OK. Two jet printers boxed up. Those cartridges are expensive!

[Cooter]

Because a lot of new printers are supplied with only partially-filled or undersized cartridges.

[Dan(9698)]

>>>...I think we should send these companies blank letters in protest.

We should send complaints to the Federal Trade Commission. It is restraint of trade.

There is a law against forcing the customers to buy something they do not want in order to get something they do want. It is called a "tying arrangement".

[afraidfortherepublic]

Those cartridges are expensive!

You bet! Kodak figured that out with cameras and film -- practically give the camera away and charge big bucks for the film. The film sales support the company. That's probably behind their "docking station" design for their digital cameras. Keep the price of the camera low but require an extra $80 for the docking station. I wonder who they think they are fooling?

[afraidfortherepublic]

I've never tried the rechargeable ink because using it negates the warranty on my printers. I like my HP printers (2 laser and several ink jet.) I hate the Canon and Epson printers around this office. The HP printers with the large cartridges aren't too bad. I always look for a package "deal" -- they're a little cheaper that way. The cheapest printers are the laser ones, but you have to sacrifice color because color laser is still too expensive for this office.

[Dan(9698)]

>>>...I've never tried the rechargeable ink because using it negates the warranty on my printers.

I have used a refill kit for about 3 years.

The low cost of printers now makes them throw away maintenance. The cost of shipping them back is almost as much as buying a new one.

I do think though that we should start a campagn to make the ink available from more than the manufacturer.

[tacticalogic]

Thanks, my ancient IBM 4019 Laser Printer is still working OK.

Hope you never have to replace the fuser. IIRC that thing is a Chinese puzzle from hell!

[cruiserman]

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....

No, Lexmark is not one of them. Lexmark sells really expensive printers and expensive cartridges.

HP next time around for me.

[Ben Hecks]

"Wal-Mart is selling a Lexmark printer which has a color ink cartridge included for $28 plus some odd cents."

Lexmark and HP ink cartridges are expensive. I use off-brand ink; for my old Epson 740 - $34 for a six pack of 3 color and 3 black. I just bought a 12 pack of cartridges for my wife's Epson C-80 for $53. Buy online and save. It sometimes helps to keep the printer turned off and any feed trays closed when not in use; keeps the print head from drying out/clogging.

[MrLee]

You can buy non-Epson ink cartridges with chips in them so they'll work like "real" Epson cartridges.