HP blocked third-party cartridges in printers by firmware update

The International Imaging Technology Council (Int’l ITC) has criticized HP for updating its printer firmware, which can block third-party cartridges. According to the organization, this practice violates the new EPEAT 2.0 environmental certification requirements, writes Ars Technica.

HP has been using the Dynamic Security mechanism for several years. This system limits the operation of cartridges without the manufacturer’s original chips. In some cases, firmware updates can completely block their use.

The International ITC has drawn attention to firmware version 2602A/B, released on January 29, 2026. According to the organization, the update applies to 11 HP printer models. Some devices began receiving it in February.

Among the models for which new firmware is available is the HP OfficeJet Pro 7720, a device introduced almost nine years ago.

Controversy over EPEAT 2.0 Requirements

The International Telecommunications Commission (ITC) believes that such updates may violate the EPEAT 2.0 registry rules. EPEAT 2.0 This registry was launched by the Global Electronics Council in December 2025 and defines environmental criteria for electronic devices.

Certification requirements require registered devices not to block remanufactured or compatible cartridges. The document explicitly prohibits the release of firmware that intentionally disables support for such consumables.

Manufacturers can comply with the requirements in several ways:

• not release updates that block cartridges with alternative electronics;
• provide an official solution for using remanufactured cartridges without loss of functionality;
• sell remanufactured cartridges through their own channels.

Int’l ITC Position and Registry Status

As of March 2026, 163 devices were registered in the EPEAT 2.0 registry. Printers are not yet among them. The previous version of the registry, EPEAT 1.0, listed over 38,000 devices.

The International Imaging Technology Council (IIC) states that HP’s practices may conflict with the new requirements. The organization represents remanufactured cartridge manufacturers, component suppliers, and companies that collect and recycle them.

Tricia Judge, Executive Director of the International IIC, claims that HP remains the only printer manufacturer that uses consumable locking via chips and firmware updates. She explains that the company’s use of Dynamic Security is motivated by security concerns.

The controversy surrounding this technology has been ongoing for several years. In 2023, the International ITC already asked the Global Electronics Council to remove at least 101 HP printers from the EPEAT 1.0 registry, claiming that the Dynamic Security system violated certification rules. This request was then denied.