HP Firmware Blocking Cartridges: Timeline, Court Rulings and How to Defend Yourself
Actualizado 16 mayo 2026Share
HP firmware that blocks cartridges: timeline, rulings and how to protect yourself
A decade of Dynamic Security, from the mass blockage of December 2016 to the March 2025 court settlement and the new European repair Directive, all on a single page. What happened, what the courts say and the exact steps to take if your printer has stopped recognising the supply.
What Dynamic Security is and why it exists
Dynamic Security is the commercial name HP gives to a set of firmware routines and cryptographic chips that validate the origin of the cartridge every time you insert it. When the validation fails, the panel spits out messages such as "non-original cartridge", "cartridge problem" or "supply protection enabled" and stops printing, even though the supply is full and perfectly functional. It is not a fault: it is a policy enforced by software.
Historically, those routines existed before 2016 as a passive warning only. What changed was the decision to roll out updates that tighten validation months or years after the customer bought the printer. Supplies that worked in January stopped printing in May. That mid-flight rule change is the root of the legal and communications conflict, not the chip itself.
The debate is not technical: it is contractual. HP argues that it is protecting the supply chain and avoiding cloned chips. European regulators and several US courts have replied that, if the customer bought a printer that worked with non-original cartridges, the equipment cannot be downgraded by firmware without prior transparency. If you want to understand why a compatible supply can perform on par with the original, take a look at our ISO 9001 and 14001 certification of supplies or the HP toner catalogue.
Interactive timeline 2016-2026
The information that follows is based exclusively on public, documented events: official HP communications, rulings from the Italian AGCM, court documents from the Northern District of California, coverage by Ars Technica, Reuters and The Register, and statements from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. No speculation, no forum rumours.
Ten years of Dynamic Security in six stops
Slide horizontally or use the arrow keys. Press Enter or click on a card to open the detail and jump to the related section.
December 2016 · The founding incident
In September 2016 HP rolled out a firmware with a "time bomb": it activated the blocking of non-HP cartridges on 13 September 2016, but the mass messages started showing up in December, when the installed base had silently updated. The most visibly affected models were OfficeJet Pro 6830, 8610, 8615, 8620, 8625 and 8630. The Electronic Frontier Foundation published an open letter ("HP's Self-Destructing Printers", 20 September 2016) and Ars Technica documented hundreds of complaints on HP's official forums within a few weeks.
September 2017 · Apology and optional rollback
After seven months of media pressure, HP published an apology on its corporate blog signed by Jon Flaxman (then COO) titled "Dynamic Security, Update" and released an optional rollback firmware per model that removed the block. It was the first time a consumer printer allowed a security update to be undone via an official file from the brand, a precedent still cited today in subsequent litigation.
August 2020 · Carolina class action
The case Mobile Emergency Housing Corp. et al. v. HP Inc., filed as 5:20-cv-05624 in the Northern District of California in August 2020 (the so-called "Carolina Lawsuit", named after the profile of some plaintiffs), brought together users and small businesses whose compatible cartridges were blocked by automatic updates. The complaint accused HP of violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, California's Unfair Competition Law and the tort of interference with contract.
November 2023 · Dynamic Security v3
Between late 2022 and November 2023, HP rolled out an internal revision of its validation firmware that specialist forums dubbed Dynamic Security v3. The technical difference compared with earlier waves was a tightened checksum algorithm against low-quality cloned chips, while staying relatively compatible with serious manufacturers of compatible chips. The Register and Bleeping Computer covered the first mass reports on the next-generation LaserJet Pro lines and the OfficeJet Pro 9100.
2024 · CEO statements, EU investigation and CNMC scrutiny
In January 2024 HP CEO Enrique Lores defended Dynamic Security in an interview with Yahoo Finance, stating that non-original cartridges could be a malware vector. The claim reignited the public debate and triggered critical coverage in Ars Technica, Reuters and The Register. Throughout the year, several European regulators ramped up scrutiny: the European Commission included the practice among the cases observed in its competition review of digital markets, and in Spain the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) incorporated the case into its analysis of consumables aftermarkets.
March 2025 · Final settlement of the Carolina case
The class action Mobile Emergency Housing Corp. et al. v. HP Inc. (case 5:20-cv-05624) was closed when a federal court for the Northern District of California approved the settlement in March 2025. The deal was criticised because the class of affected consumers received no financial compensation: only the three named plaintiffs were paid 5,000 dollars each, plus roughly 725,000 dollars in legal fees. HP did not admit liability, but it committed to keep disclosing Dynamic Security and to keep the firmware updates that include it optional, so users can decline them. The concession covers a closed list of 21 models; the rest of the post-2016 fleet remains exposed.
This settlement should not be confused with the 1.5 million dollar settlement in In re HP Printer Firmware Update Litigation (case 5:16-cv-05820), granted final approval in April 2019: that one did create a reimbursement fund for the owners affected by the 2016 blockage and barred HP from reactivating that specific update. They are two distinct cases with distinct outcomes.
2026 · Current status
As of April 2026, Dynamic Security remains operational on most of HP's new lines. Reference manufacturers of compatible chips have updated their chips at least twice since 2023, and the compatible supplies sold today by serious distributors work with the current firmware. Official rollbacks remain restricted to the historic 2016-2017 models and, partially, to a few units from December 2020. For everything more recent, the practical route is updated chip + disabled updates.
The European framework is moving too. Directive (EU) 2024/1799 on the repair of goods, adopted on 13 June 2024, must be applied in every Member State — Spain included — from 31 July 2026. It strengthens the consumer's right to repair and to use third-party parts and supplies, and requires manufacturers not to obstruct those routes with software barriers. It is the first EU rule to bear directly on the logic of Dynamic Security.
"Dynamic Security is not a feature you bought with the printer: it is a mid-flight rule change rolled out years after the sale. That is why it is a legal problem before it is a technical one."
Startoner technical team, synthesis of regulatory analysis 2016-2026
The impact in numbers
We bring together the verified figures from ten years of Dynamic Security at a single glance. The numbers come from public rulings, court records and specialist press coverage.
Affected models, years and symptoms
This table sums up the six documented waves by cross-referencing printer model, year of the wave and the exact symptoms you would see on the panel. If your reference is not listed, check the family column: HP issues firmware by chip family, not by individual reference. For a model-specific check, you can cross-reference it with our guide how to find out which toner your printer needs.
| Year / wave | Affected HP models | Panel symptom | Official rollback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2016 | OfficeJet Pro 6830, 8610, 8615, 8620, 8625, 8630 | "Cartridge Problem" · full print block | Yes (Sep 2017) |
| Sep 2017 | Same models as above | Returns to pre-2016 behaviour | This is the rollback |
| Mar 2020 | Several LaserJet and OfficeJet with cloned chips | "Used, Refilled or Counterfeit Cartridge" | Not official |
| Dec 2020 | LaserJet Pro M404/M428, OfficeJet Pro 9020 | "Supply Protection Enabled" · printing halted | Partial |
| Oct 2022 | Color LaserJet Pro and some Enterprise units | Warning first, block on the second pass | Depends on the model |
| Nov 2023-24 | Next-generation LaserJet Pro, OfficeJet Pro 9100 | "Non-HP cartridge installed" · hardened validation | Very limited |
Real cases: Spanish businesses affected
Aggregated numbers convey the scale; individual stories explain the real cost. These profiles are built on recurring patterns among Startoner customers who got in touch after suffering blocks during the December 2020, October 2022 and November 2023 waves. Representative data, not specific accounts.
María José · accounting firm, Cádiz
Tax advisory · 6 employees · HP OfficeJet Pro 9020
During the December 2020 wave, her OfficeJet Pro stopped recognising four compatible cartridges that had just been bought, right in the middle of the VAT season. She solved it with a partial rollback, swapping in supplies with a 2021 chip and disabling automatic updates. Today she keeps a policy of not accepting new firmware unless it has been reviewed first.
Rubén · digital print shop, Algeciras
Print workshop · 3 employees · HP LaserJet Pro M428
Hit in October 2022 with a loss of two full days of production. We combined Startoner compatible toner with a 2023-revision chip and disabled updates from the internal web server (EWS). A year later, his average supply cost had dropped 38% versus the original, with no further incidents.
Legal response: Carolina, AGCM and the European Union
The judicial record of Dynamic Security is probably the most extensive of any tying practice in consumer printing in the last twenty years. Here is a summary of the four main milestones and what they mean for the European user.
United States · Carolina class action (N.D. Cal. 2020-2025)
The case Mobile Emergency Housing Corp. et al. v. HP Inc., informally known as the "Carolina Lawsuit", was filed in August 2020 in the Northern District of California under case number 5:20-cv-05624. The plaintiffs alleged that the firmware updates deliberately blocked third-party cartridges that had been working before, in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and California's unfair competition law. In March 2025, a federal court for the Northern District of California approved the settlement that ended the case: HP paid no compensation to the consumer class and admitted no liability, and committed to keep the updates that include Dynamic Security optional. The case docket is available through PACER, the US public court records system.
Italy · AGCM, 10 million euro fine
The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) issued ruling number 28522 in December 2020, imposing a joint fine of 10 million euros on HP Italy and HP Inc. for unfair commercial practices linked to insufficient disclosure of Dynamic Security. According to the AGCM file, HP did not properly inform Italian consumers that firmware updates could block non-original cartridges. To date it is the toughest sanction handed down in the European Union over a firmware-blocking practice.
European Union · EUR-Lex and competition scrutiny
The applicable European framework combines several pieces of law. Directive 2005/29/EC on unfair commercial practices and Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights underpin the duty to clearly inform about limitations that affect normal use of the product after purchase. During 2024 the European Commission included firmware-blocking practices in its analysis of printing aftermarkets within its periodic review under article 102 TFEU.
UK and EU · Consumer protection framework
In the United Kingdom, the consumer is covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and Directive (EU) 2019/771. The Italian, Spanish and other European regulators have brought firmware-blocking practices into their analyses of printing consumables aftermarkets. If a forced update materially degrades equipment that you bought working with compatible supplies, you have the right to file a formal complaint citing your local consumer rights legislation alongside Directive 2005/29/EC. Our refund policy covers this scenario.
How to spot that your HP has been blocked
The most visible symptom is the printer halting with a specific message. These are the most common texts after a Dynamic Security update, in English and in Spanish:
- "Cartridge Problem" or "Problema con el cartucho" on the front panel.
- "Non-HP cartridge installed" or "Cartucho no HP instalado".
- "Supply Protection Enabled" or "Protección de suministros activada".
- "Used, Refilled or Counterfeit Cartridge" with a flashing LED.
- "Printer locked, contact HP support" on recent models.
To confirm the cause is firmware and not a faulty cartridge, run two quick checks. First, print the firmware version from Settings → Maintenance → Printer information → Configuration report. Second, cross-reference that version with the table above and the date of the last update accepted. If it matches a documented wave and changed in the last 60 days, your diagnosis is clear. As a backup, take a look at our step-by-step guide on my printer doesn't recognise compatible toner.
Reversing a block step by step
Step 1 · Identify version and model
Print the Configuration report from the front panel. Write down the full firmware string (for example 2142A or 20240217) and the exact model number. Without those two pieces of information no rollback will work, and any support call will ask you for the same thing back.
Step 2 · Look for the official rollback
Go to support.hp.com, type in the model and filter by Firmware. Some 2016-2017 models and a limited subset from 2020 have a file explicitly labelled "Optional firmware that returns printer to pre-Dynamic-Security behavior". Download it only from HP's official site (never from an unverified mirror) and follow the flashing instructions. If your model does not list the file, the official rollback does not exist for your equipment and you should move on to step 3.
Step 3 · Switch to a supply with an updated chip
Serious manufacturers of compatibles update their chips every time HP releases a wave. The supplies you buy today in compatible HP toner or HP ink cartridges include a 2024-revision chip firmware or later. If you have an old box in stock bought before the latest wave, return it under our refund policy and we will swap it free of charge within that policy.
Step 4 · Disable updates before restarting
We detail this step in the next section. It is critical to do it before restarting the printer after the supply swap: if you accept another update during the restart, you can lock the block in and lose the compatibility of the chip you just installed.
Preventing future forced updates
There are two effective routes. Pick the one that fits your workflow best; they are complementary, not mutually exclusive.
Method A · Printer front panel
- Go to Settings → Web Services → Firmware update.
- Switch from Install automatically to Notify but don't install, or simply Disabled.
- Save changes and restart the printer from the menu (not via the physical button, so the new value is persisted).
Method B · HP Smart or internal web server (EWS)
- Point a browser at the printer's IP (it appears on the Configuration report).
- Go to Settings → Preferences → Automatic updates.
- Disable them. Save.
- In Web Services, also consider disabling HP Smart Advance and HP Instant Ink if you don't use them, to close the channels that could pull the patch in the background.
Alternatives when there is no rollback
If your model has no rollback and swapping the supply for one with a new chip does not work either, there are three reasonable paths. None is free, but all three are legitimate:
- Formal complaint to HP and consumer authorities citing AGCM ruling 28522/2020 and articles 20 and 49 of Directive 2005/29/EC. Many European users have obtained out-of-warranty printer replacements after a well-grounded complaint, especially after the Carolina precedent, judicially closed in 2025.
- Migration to another brand with a more open policy. At Startoner you have a deep catalogue in Brother toner, Canon toner and Epson ink, brands with a far less troubled record on this front.
- Switch to a current device with guaranteed supplies support. Our business service includes pre-purchase advice for new printers and recurring supply contracts with a written SLA.
For corporate quotes or recurring supply contracts, also take a look at the technical service options and the paper catalogue if you are consolidating suppliers.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal for HP to block compatible cartridges through firmware?
It depends on the jurisdiction and, above all, on prior informational transparency. In Italy, the AGCM fined HP 10 million euros in December 2020 (ruling 28522) precisely for insufficient disclosure. In the United States the Carolina case was closed by a settlement approved by a court in March 2025, with no compensation for the class and no admission of fault. In the UK and across the EU, users can rely on the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and Directive (EU) 2019/771, plus Directive 2005/29/EC, if the degradation was not clearly disclosed at the point of sale.
What exactly was the Carolina lawsuit against HP?
The case Mobile Emergency Housing Corp. et al. v. HP Inc. (N.D. Cal., case 5:20-cv-05624), popularly known as the "Carolina Lawsuit", was a class action filed in August 2020 accusing HP of intentionally blocking compatible cartridges via firmware updates. In March 2025 a federal court approved the settlement that closed the case: HP paid no compensation to the consumer class and admitted no liability, and committed to keep the updates that include Dynamic Security optional. The docket is available through PACER.
What is the difference between a factory-made compatible and a remanufactured one with a cloned chip?
A factory-made compatible carries a proprietary chip developed legally by the manufacturer. A remanufactured one with a cloned chip reuses the original chip from a used cartridge through reverse engineering. The March 2020 firmware and part of Dynamic Security v3 specifically targeted the second case, not the first. In counterfeit vs compatible cartridges you have the full technical comparison.
Do I lose the printer warranty if I use compatible cartridges?
No. European law forbids tying the equipment warranty to the exclusive use of the manufacturer's supplies, provided the supply does not cause demonstrable damage. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 and Directive (EU) 2019/771 cover this rule, and HP has expressly acknowledged it in its public documentation since 2017.
Do I have to disconnect the printer from the internet to avoid blocks?
It is not mandatory, but it is highly advisable if your model has no official rollback. A middle-ground option is to keep it on a wired network and apply router rules that block traffic to HP's update domains (for instance *.ezprintupdates.hp.com). That way you keep the local network and remote scanning features without exposing yourself to future waves.
Does Startoner guarantee that its supplies will keep working after a firmware update?
Yes. Every product in our catalogue is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified and ships with a chip updated to the 2024 revision or later. If a firmware update blocks a freshly purchased supply, we replace it free of charge under our refund policy. Write to us from the contact page and we will get back to you quickly, always available.
How long has HP historically taken to release an official rollback?
The only clear historic case is the optional rollback published in September 2017, seven months after the December 2016 incident. In subsequent waves the rollbacks have been partial or non-existent, which reinforces how much more important prevention is than repair.
Does Dynamic Security affect HP Enterprise business printers?
From 2022 onwards, yes, although with a more conservative profile than the consumer line. The October 2022 wave reached some Enterprise models with stricter policies. For corporate fleets we recommend an audit before buying supplies, take a look at our business services page or request an analysis from contact.
Keep reading
My printer does not recognise compatible toner
Checklist and fixes by brand and model, focused on the chip and firmware.
Read guide → ComparisonCounterfeit vs compatible cartridges
How to tell a legitimate chip from a clone and why Dynamic Security mostly hits the latter.
Read analysis → SubscriptionHP Instant Ink in Spain
When it pays off, when to migrate and how it interacts with the firmware policy.
Read comparison → EconomicsReal cost of printing in Spain
Cents per page comparing original and compatible after the latest firmware wave.
Read calculation →Has your HP stopped recognising the cartridge?
Stock in Los Barrios (Cádiz), 24-hour shipping to mainland Spain and a chip updated to the 2024 revision or later. If a future wave hits a supply you just bought, we replace it free of charge under our refund policy. Always available.