- HP (HPQ +1%) has apologized to customers affected by a software update that caused some printers to stop working with third-party ink cartridges, and promised a fix.
- The update caused the printers to stop working even if they had worked with outside ink supplies in the past. HP says the move was designed to protect customers from "unauthorized" cartridges.
- "Although only a small number of customers have been affected, one customer who has a poor experience is one too many," said a statement by Chief Operating Officer Jon Flaxman that promised another update to come that reverses the change.
- HP's ink cartridges contain security chips that can be read and recognized by its printers. Printer ink is one of the company's most profitable products.