The Copyright Office has quashed Lexmark’s claim that the DMCA gives it a monopoly on printer cartridges for its printers because of the microchip it’s so conveniently placed on them.
Many printer manufacturers have taken to creating a microchip interface on their toner or ink cartridges that talks to the printer. The ostensible reason is that this lets the printer know better when ink/toner is running low and other maintenance issues.
The fact is, though, the companies have instead been using that chip as leverage. Printer cartridges without the chip will no longer work. And under the DMCA, Lexmark claimed (along with others), decrypting the chip and putting a knock-off of it on a third-party cartridge was a violation.
In other words, printer manufacturers could become the sole source of toner/ink cartridges. And, just like with Barbies, “it’s not the doll that makes the money, it’s the accessories” — as anyone who’s bought toner and ink cartridges knows.
The Copyright Office, which has control over aspects of DMCA, though, has ruled that such chips are legitimate and do not violate that act.
Huzzah!
(via Randomize)