This is how a smart sticker tricks HP’s ink DRM

The battle over printer cartridges is once again coming to a head: a researcher is circumventing HP’s DRM system with a clever method, and the company is threatening, as usual, with tough measures. The controversy surrounding overpriced inks has reached a new dimension.

Smart sticker tricks HP’s printer

Printer ink cartridges are a very expensive product if purchased directly from the manufacturer. Many users therefore turn to cheaper alternatives from third-party providers. But the manufacturers are fighting back: They equip their cartridges with chips that are also intended to prevent refilling.

These digital rights management systems (DRM) are intended to make it difficult for consumers to use third-party cartridges or ink. Now the resourceful researcher has Jay Humming developed a clever, but also quite complex, method to bypass HP’s DRM system. According to the report from Hackaday for this a flexible circuit board with contacts on both sides.

This is placed between the cartridge and the printer and intercepts the communication. A special chip on the circuit board manipulates the data so that the printer accepts the third-party cartridge. Printer cartridge hack: This is how Smart-Sticker tricks HP’s ink DRM

As usual, HP responds to such circumvention attempts with the threat of “tough measures”. The company has long been threatening to deactivate printers that use third-party cartridges. HP cites “security concerns” as the reason. “We want to protect our users from hackers and viruses,” the company says. However, critics see this as just an excuse to protect the lucrative business with original cartridges.

Rights remain threatened

The controversy also has legal consequences. There are currently several legal proceedings against HP’s “Dynamic Security” DRM system. It is extremely problematic for consumers that the hardware they have purchased could suddenly become useless. According to many consumer advocates, the threat of deactivating printers when using third-party cartridges represents a massive infringement on property rights.