The OEM and the largest manufacturer of aftermarket imaging systems and components have both commented on the recent reports of chips locking out cartridges.
The Recycler’s recent report on the virus alert stated that chips fitted to cloned Samsung MLT-D101 cartridges, as well as those supplied to remanufacturers, are infecting Samsung printers and locking out OEM cartridges, with two sources telling The Recycler that the chips were sourced in Asia and supplied to several companies producing new, non-OEM Samsung MLT-D101 cartridges, as well as to remanufacturers around the world.
In response to this, an engineer stated that the chips infect the printers and lock out OEM cartridges, and Samsung had reportedly released a series of downloadable firmware updates for printers using the cartridge, which restored full functionality to the printer, but in turn lock out cloned and remanufactured cartridges that are using the chips in question.
Samsung, which had previously never issued downloadable firmware updates, stated to The Recycler: “No virus has been found on Samsung laser printer and MFPs. To provide a better user experience, all electronics manufactures provide firmware updates for their products.”
The OEM was said to be shipping new printers with a more robust firmware version installed, though another source said that this was not yet available in all regions. The Recycler previously reported that the impact on remanufacturers could be catastrophic if printer users and Samsung were to take action against chip manufacturers and remanufacturers who would have supplied a virus-infecting chip, and stated that this reinforces the need for remanufacturers to have a total understanding of the IP issues and the functionality of chips fitted to remanufactured products.
Static Control also commented on the situation, telling The Recycler: “We engineer and manufacture our chips in-house to deliver OEM functionality without violating any intellectual property (IP). Our Samsung chip offering works with all known firmware and will never prevent use of an OEM cartridge.
“We stand by our statement that we provide the industry’s most reliable, fully functional chips that are the most resistant to OEM firmware changes. Careful consideration of IP is taken throughout our research, engineering and manufacturing process to allow us to provide our customers with the safest aftermarket solutions available.”