How printer firmware reads a cartridge chip, why some OEM updates block third-party consumables and how a serious supplier keeps compatibles working.
Almost every current toner and ink cartridge carries a small chip. It tells the printer what the cartridge is (its colour and rated yield) and lets the machine estimate remaining levels. The same chip also acts as a filter, because the firmware reads it and decides whether to accept the cartridge.
When a manufacturer ships a firmware update with stricter checks, a cartridge that worked yesterday can return a “non-genuine” or “cartridge problem” warning. The most documented example is HP’s “Dynamic Security”, introduced in 2016. In March 2025 HP settled a US class action over firmware that had made third-party cartridges incompatible, and agreed to let users install or decline updates that include Dynamic Security.
What chip compatibility means
A legitimate compatible or remanufactured cartridge has its own, independently produced chip. It communicates correctly with the printer and accurately reports the cartridge it is fitted to. That is lawful, and it is what Ergonet supplies.
Illegal “clones” are a separate matter. They copy a patented design and are seized at EU borders, even though they fit the same cartridge bay as a lawful compatible.
How compatibles keep working
A serious supplier treats the chip as an engineering problem. It sources cartridges whose chips are kept current against new firmware, tracks which printer models and firmware revisions have changed behaviour and keeps customers informed. On fleets that run compatibles, automatic firmware updates can be reviewed before they are applied.
Ergonet is an official reseller of OEM brands and a supplier of compatible and remanufactured consumables. We explain the firmware question before you choose, and we support OEM and compatible cartridges alike after the sale.
Source: The Register