Brother Accused of Print Quality Degradation with Third-Party Toner

Brother Accused of Print Quality Degradation with Third-Party Toner

Recent reports have raised concerns over Brother’s firmware updates allegedly degrading print quality when using third-party toner. Online discussions and a viral YouTube video have reignited accusations that Brother, once regarded as more consumer-friendly than competitors like HP, has implemented software changes that coerce users into purchasing its genuine toner.

The issue came to light when a Reddit user claimed that firmware update W1.56 caused the automatic color registration feature to stop working on their Brother MFC-3750 printer when non-OEM toner was installed. Without proper color alignment, the prints became misaligned and unusable. Other users reported similar experiences, noting that only switching to Brother’s genuine toner restored normal functionality.

According to a wiki page on Consumer Action Taskforce, several users have collectively reported that Brother has employed anti-competitive tactics, such as removing older firmware versions from its servers to prevent downgrades and silently pushing updates that modify device behavior post-purchase. Critics liken Brother’s practices to other printer manufacturers’ restrictive firmware measures, such as HP’s “Dynamic Security” updates blocking non-OEM ink and Canon disabling scanning functions when ink is low.

Brother’s Response

Brother has denied any intentional attempt to degrade print quality with third-party toner. In a statement to Ars Technica, the company insisted that its firmware updates do not block non-OEM cartridges and that any perceived performance issues are unrelated to its updates. Brother suggested that troubleshooting with genuine toner may have led to misunderstandings and reiterated that it cannot verify the quality of third-party supplies.

“We are aware of the recent false claims suggesting that a Brother firmware update may have restricted the use of third-party ink cartridges. Please be assured that Brother firmware updates do not block the use of third-party ink in our machines.”

While Brother’s official stance rejects claims of deliberate function removal, online reports continue to fuel skepticism. With the printing industry facing revenue challenges, some speculate that manufacturers are adopting more aggressive tactics to secure profits from consumables.

However, without definitive proof of Brother intentionally sabotaging non-OEM toner performance, the debate remains unresolved. Consumers looking to maintain control over their printers may consider disabling automatic updates to avoid potential restrictions in the future.

Related:

• Brother Reports Continuous Growth in Q3
• Brother Records Steady Growth in Q2 2024
• Brother Begins Remanufacturing Ink Cartridges in UK
• Brother Reported Lower Printing Equipment Sales in Q1 2024
• Brother Publishes Cartridge-Related Patent in the U.S.

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