Chip Shortage Has Canon Telling Customers How To Defeat Its DRM

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica that states that printers have been encumbered with digital rights management systems that prevent users from buying third-party ink and toner. Printer companies claim that their chip-enabled cartridges can enhance the quality and performance of their equipment, provide the best consumer experience, and protect the printers from counterfeit and third-party ink cartridges. It's left unsaid that the recurring revenue stream is ensured by requiring first-party cartridges. Gillette sold its razor handles cheaply to sell more razors, and it's an old business model that printer companies have embraced. Lexmark, HP, Canon, Brother, and others all require users to purchase first-party ink. To make sure that the use of first-party cartridges is enforced, manufacturers usually put chips inside the consumables. When chips are in short supply, manufacturers can find themselves in a bind. Canon is telling German customers how to get rid of their printers' warnings.

Canon is facing challenges in procuring certain electronic components that are used in its consumables for itsMFP due to the worldwide continuing shortage of Semiconductor components. "In order to ensure a continuous and reliable supply of consumables, we have decided to supply consumables without a Semiconductor component until the normal supply takes place again." Users can either agree or close their eyes when an error message occurs. The world does not end when users press that button. Canon says that users may find that the low-toner warning doesn't come through when they use their toner. Canon's support site says that there are no negative effects on print quality when consumables are used without electronic components.