The controversy over non-genuine ink has flared up again in the printer market.

Printers need ink. Of course, these cartridges are not infinite, they will eventually run out of ink and need to be refilled over time. Sounds simple enough, right? But it’s not.

You may not know it, but major printer manufacturers like HP and Canon have been embroiled in controversy and even major scandals over allegations of blocking the use of third-party ink cartridges.

For example, in 2016, HP was accused of blocking printers using non-HP ink cartridges by displaying a pre-programmed error. Although the company later reversed its stance after public pressure, the incident had many negative consequences for the industry.

Similarly, in 2021, Canon was sued alleging that its multifunction printers would also disable scanning when the ink cartridge ran low and were replaced with a non-Canon cartridge.

Using non-genuine third-party accessories hasn't been an issue for Brother in the past, but recent reports suggest things are getting worse.

Some complaints from users on Reddit say that the W1.56 firmware update appears to have “broken” the automatic color registration feature on the MFC-L3750CDW color laser printer. A Brother customer service representative even confirmed that “the printer will not function without genuine ink.” In addition to limiting compatibility, Brother also removed features like automatic color registration for users who opt for third-party ink.

Several other users have reported similar experiences. However, Brother has denied these allegations, stating that this is “misinformation” and that they do not “intentionally degrade print quality based on the use of genuine or non-genuine Brother cartridges.”

In a statement to Ars Technica, Brother said:

We are aware of recent misinformation suggesting that a Brother firmware update may have restricted the use of third-party ink cartridges. Please be assured that firmware updates do not block the use of third-party ink in Brother printers.

Brother printers do not intentionally reduce print quality based on the use of genuine or non-genuine Brother cartridges. However, Brother cannot guarantee print quality when using third-party cartridges compatible with Brother printers.

We are actively addressing the source of this misinformation to ensure accurate information is provided to customers.

Brother makes the fairly reasonable point that it can't guarantee the quality of third-party, non-Brother accessories. It also doesn't rule out the possibility that the firmware is actually causing ink compatibility issues. In that case, the company would have to investigate firmware quality control before releasing it.

Brother printers have long been praised for their ability to work with a wide range of cartridges, which has helped them stand out from brands like HP and Canon. However, this “scandal” will certainly put that reputation to the test.