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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.
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1,586 thoughts onEpson Class Action Says Printers Disabled When Non-Epson Ink Used
Yes I was trying to save a few bucks but had no idea it would disable my darn printers. I have 2 Workforce 2650 printers that are just collecting dust now. That was a pretty crappy thing for Epson to do.
Too expensive and ink is also.
My Epson printer would not work with the ink I brought from a third party company online.
Same. Printer died as I was trying to save a few dollars.
Yes just happen to me as well when I ran out of ink. Or course Epson is over price so we try to find one with a better deal only to be disappointed this actually happened to 2 of my printers of the same brand. I thought it was just me so please add me as well
The same thing happen to mines as well could not use it , I bought 2 Epson because I thought I had missed it up when trying to buy other ink cartridges so I purchase a mother one same think happen started using HP and the same thing happened as well so I have 4 printers that useless it’s cheaper to just go buy a cheaper brand then keep paying money on expensive ink cartridges
My Epson WF-3720 was disabled when I tried to use remanufactured ink cartridges. The software is required in order for the printer to function properly, at least that is what the update suggested to me.
This happened to me several times. I wasn’t able to print at all. Please add me
I have an EPSON and HP printer graveyard in my basement due to the fact that it was always cheaper to purchase a new printer rather than purchase the replacement cartridges. I also have numerous REPLACEMENT cartridges that were supposed to work on both EPSON and HP and never would. Of course once they’ve been opened you cannot return them. I caught on the expensive way years ago. It’s sad that a consumer is forced to purchase a printer they don’t need just to get the ink cartridge. I’m guilty of doing exactly that and then I donate the unused printer new in the box to Goodwill. Of course I put a note to let them know there isn’t an ink cartridge. What a waste.
I had the same happen to 2 printers.