Lexmark sues maker of toner cartridge chips

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.

What you say makes sense and I have heard people say the same thing about the cartridges which come with the printers not being full of ink.

In my limited experience though, the ones which come with the printers have full cartridges. In fact the cartridges appeared to be off-the-shelf, and were in the same type sealed boxes in which the replacements come.

These cartridges are NOT cheap. And when the company sets a certain 'crap out timer' on them, it doubles the cost of that cartridge. So if you don't use the cartridge up REALLY FAST, you'll end up having to buy a new one. .....I use mine for homeschool. BUT, unless can sit down and print out lessons for weeks/months at a single sitting, that CARTRIDGE IS A WASH.

I have a 'middle of the road' lexmark. (Z32) The model BEFORE that, NEVER crapped out. (and they got refilled MANY TIMES) It seems that if you spend more for their printers, they think you should pay more for the cartridges.

How did I find out about this, AFTER consulting a LOT of computer 'geeks' and spending big $$$ at repair shops???? I did a google search for that 'wonderful' fatal head error, and 'the solution'. (Not many people know about this built-in failure chip...talk about 'planned obsolescense'):)

To my 'way' of thinking, if a consumer buys ANY product, and ends up paying twice as much to use it, it is a rip-off. There HAS to be a way to take action. There HAS to be someone who will not do their customers 'dirty'.

I work in the printer industry and I can tell you that it is a very competitive business. Most companies are giving the equipment away and hoping to make money on the service and consumables (i.e. toner cartridges). Often the sale of toner (and drum) cartridges generate more revenue than the sale of the equipment itself. I can see why Lexmark (not the company I work for) might not be too happy to see it made possible for consumers to use generic toner in their printers. It could have disastrous consequences for their bottom line.

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