What just happened? HP has spent years resisting customer complaints over DRM that restricts users to the company’s expensive ink cartridges. However, HP appears to have bowed to external pressure regarding cheaper laser printers that were saddled with a mandatory subscription service. Existing owners of all HP printers are unaffected.
Laser printers tied to HP’s subscription service have begun disappearing from online marketplaces. The company’s decision to remove them comes amid years of scrutiny over its policies regarding DRM and ink cartridges.
HP told German outlet Druckerchannel that it withdrew the laser printers out of concern for clients that couldn’t keep them connected to cloud services at all times. Using the affected printers requires a subscription to the company’s online-only HP+ service, which includes an extended warranty, remote printing through cloud servers, and other perks. Druckerchannel speculates that some businesses couldn’t maintain constant connections due to security concerns and that HP responded to customer backlash over online-only DRM.
The discontinued models include all LaserJet models with names ending in an e:
- HP Laser Jet M110we, M209dwe
- HP Laser Jet MFP M140we, M234sdne, M234sdwe
- HP Laser Jet Pro 3002dwe, 4002dne, 4002dwe
- HP Laser Jet Pro MFP 3102fdwe, 4102dwe, 4102fdwe
HP plans to implement online functionality in later Laser Jet models but hasn’t disclosed precise details. Those using the delisted variants will see no change and must continue using HP+.
Furthermore, the situation regarding the company’s Ink Jet printers remains unchanged. Optional HP+ subscriptions are still available and the company intends to continue using DRM to force nonsubscribers to purchase HP ink cartridges.
The DRM is the target of a class-action lawsuit from plaintiffs who consider the behavior monopolistic. The company has also been accused of disabling scanning functions until users buy more HP ink, even when they don’t need to print anything. HP openly admits to using a razor-and-blade sales model to get as much money as possible from clients, and prior complaints have forced it to pay hefty settlements in multiple countries.
Another subscription from the company, Instant Ink, automatically ships cartridges to customers when their ink runs low. However, it also limits the number of pages users can print monthly and levies fees for cancelations before the two-year mark. HP has delisted the subscription for toner shipments for new Laser Jet owners without clarifying why, but concerns over brand confusion might explain the decision.