A class action lawsuit alleges that Epson wrongly prevents their printers from working with ink made by any other manufacturer.
William Mondigo and Richard Famiglietti say that when they purchased their printers, they reviewed the specifications for them, and noted that Epson did not disclose that the company would disable the printers if a third-party ink cartridge was used.
Allegedly, Epson engages in a “systematic campaign” of disabling Epson printers when the user attempts to use non-Epson ink cartridges. Mondigo and Famiglietti say that the company does this by designing software updates that purposely disables the printers when the non-Epson ink cartridges are installed.
The two customers go on to state that there is nothing wrong with the third-party ink cartridges, noting that they work with Epson printers that have not been given the software update that disables the printers.
Mondigo and Famiglietti also note that they and other customers actively did not authorize Epson to disable their printers. The customers explain that a purchaser must agree to Epson’s licensing agreement, and they note that the licensing agreement states that Epson may implement software updates. However, the license allegedly does not explain that these updates could disable the printers.
Mondigo and Famiglietti say that for many users, these updates effectively ruined the Epson printers. The customers say they were forced to pay more for ink cartridges than they otherwise would, because Epson ink cartridges cost significantly more than third-party cartridges, some costing as much as $150.
Additionally, the plaintiffs note that in many cases, the cost of replacement cartridges over the lifetime of the printer is higher than the cost of the printer itself.
The Epson printer class action lawsuit states that Epson did not inform printer owners that the company would update the software so that the printers would not work with non-Epson printer ink. The Epson printer class action lawsuit goes on to say that Epson advertised that the software updates would “improve the printers and fix known issues.”
The Epson ink cartridge class action lawsuit says that Epson’s action to disable the printers when third-party cartridges are used goes beyond information provided in the Epson 2018 Annual Report. Allegedly, that report did note that Epson printers could be used with third-party ink cartridges, and explained that customer use of these third-party products could cut into the company’s bottom line.
However, the Epson printer ink cartridge class action lawsuit says that in that report, Epson does not discuss disabling printers as a way to increase the company’s market shares, and merely suggests tactics including “emphasizing the quality of genuine Epson brand” and “enhance[ing] customer experience and developing new products…”
Was your printer disabled after you used a third-party ink cartridge? Let us know in the comment section.
Mondigo and Famiglietti are represented by Jae K. Kim, Eric D. Zard, Edwin J. Kilpela and James P. McGraw of Carlson Lynch LLP and Michael K. Yarnoff of Kehoe Law Firm PC.
The Epson Printer Ink Cartridge Class Action Lawsuit is William Mondigo, et al. v. Epson America Inc., Case No. 3:19-cv-02009-BEN-BGS, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2025 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
NEC lawsuit: Families take action against Enfamil and Similac baby formula makers
September 10, 2025 | Legal News
1,619 thoughts onEpson Class Action Says Printers Disabled When Non-Epson Ink Used
I have an Epson Workforce Pro WF 38-20. The cost of recommended Epson replacement cartridges is excessive . If I were to use these cartridges it would exceed the cost of the printer in short order. The printer works with off brand ink cartridges. It will allow me to run tests and and actually printed out the supply status of my off brand cartridges. However updates initiated by Epson prevent me from using the cartridges. The settings section of my printer are minimal; I can’t bypass these unwanted “Updates” that are meant only to restrict my ability to purchase competitively priced ink. If Epson offered competitively priced cartridges or even a rebate for recycling your old cartridges I would buy from them, but their pricing is exorbitant and they never come down…. why should they? They’ve made it impossible for other competitively priced, quality cartridges to compete.
Had the same problem with a new (1 month old) WP-7840. Used aftermarket ink and now it won’t print, first cartridge wasn’t the Epson initial cartridge’s that came with the printer. Used after maket ink and worked great. The second after maket cartridge installed didn’t work, I even installed the original initial Epson cartridge and it said I had already used my initial cartridge so it wouldn’t except it. Doesn’t recognize the black ink cartridge at all. This is my second Epson WF-7840 this year, I returned the first one for a defective carriage that nothing to do with after maket ink cartridges but because I had an aftermarket ink cartridge in the carriage they said my warranty is void. Not an honorable company!
My Epson XP 4100 was printing fine even after inserting 3rd party cartridges . Then before the ink ran out, it needed a cartridge change. I went back to Epson ink but now doesn’t print properly. Running through the print head cleaning and alignments, it’s wasting any new ink I put in. I could have bought a new printer with the money I have spent on ink and I still couldn’t print the two pages I needed.