The computer and printer manufacturer HP is the subject of a criminal complaint in France, accused by an association of applying “planned obsolescence” to ink cartridges and preventing their reuse, AFP learned on Tuesday from the complainant.
The complaint from the Stop Planned Obsolescence (HOP) association, of which AFP learned, was presented on Monday in Paris for “planned obsolescence of products through software” and “impediment to the reconditioning and restoration of the functionalities of the ink cartridges HP recharged or reconditioned”. outside of their authorized channels.”
According to the partnership, HP is implementing several “opaque” strategies to reduce cartridge life.
First of all, it would remotely block, using a chip and software, non-brand cartridges, but also HP cartridges refilled by competitors, without informing the customer “clearly” and, sometimes, rendering printers and scanners unusable. .
Finally, the company would reduce over the years “the amount of ink in its cartridges while increasing its prices, until reaching 7,500 euros per liter.”
“Dishonest and harmful”
“HP is desperate to ensure that cartridges are only used once. It is dishonest for consumers and harmful to the environment,” Flavie Vonderscher, HOP’s head of advocacy, told AFP.
Furthermore, based on the decisions that sanctioned HP abroad (Italy, United States), HOP hopes that a preliminary investigation will be opened to put an end to these practices and has published an online petition. Following HOP’s complaints, two preliminary investigations are underway in France.
One in Nanterre since 2017, directed against the Japanese manufacturer Epson for planned obsolescence and deception, suspected of blocking “printing under the pretext that the ink cartridges are empty when there is still ink left.”
The other has been in Paris since 2023 for deceptive trade practices and planned obsolescence against the American smartphone giant Apple, accused of “restricting repairs to unauthorized repairers or degrading a smartphone repaired with “generic” parts remotely.”
In February 2020, Apple agreed to pay a €25 million fine in France as part of a plea deal to end prosecutions for deceptive business practices.
Source: BFM TV
