- HP's Dynamic Security system, introduced in 2016, uses firmware updates to block non-HP ink cartridges after sale, even on printers previously accepting them.
- HP has faced multiple lawsuits over Dynamic Security, but settlements (totaling millions) are insignificant compared to its ~$17.4 billion annual printing revenue.
- The 2025 class-action settlement allows owners of only 21 specific HP models to opt out of restrictive firmware updates, leaving most post-2016 printers vulnerable.
- HP's CEO stated the company loses money on hardware but profits from supplies, making ink sales highly lucrative despite legal costs.
- Alternatives include ink-tank printers without chipped cartridges or open-source projects like OpenPrinter, which bypass authentication entirely.