European Union "bans" printer firm cartridge scam

A RULING PASSED IN THE European Parliament offers hope that printer companies will be prevented from forcing end users to buy their own proprietary cartridges.

But that won't be any time real soon now.

That could put an end to the practice of printer companies introducing special chipper up cartridges that sometimes cost as much as two thirds of the printer.

But on the other hand, it could force printer companies to charge a realistic price for the machines, rather than force consumers to pay through the nose for the expensive refills.

It's no secret that firms like Hewlett Packard make a mint from their consumable division, and in recent years the situation has got so ludicrous that it makes something like 17% of its annual turnover from sales of the "consumables".

But you're going to have to wait a while for reality to strike. The bill doesn't become an act across Europe until 2006.

Oh, and the printer companies can appeal against it. µ

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