Members of the International Imaging Technology Council (Int’l ITC) are calling out HP for issuing firmware updates that brick third-party ink and toner functionality in its printers. HP calls this Dynamic Security and has been doing it for years; however, the Int’l ITC is taking new issue with the practice, considering that it is explicitly prohibited for devices registered under the Global Electronics Council’s (GEC’s) Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) 2.0 registry.
The Int’l ITC is a trade group that says it represents North American “toner and inkjet cartridge re-manufacturers, component suppliers, and cartridge collectors.”
It’s important to note that the Int’l ITC may be considered biased because its members could greatly profit when printer manufacturers commit to supporting aftermarket cartridges in devices.
Still, customers and security experts have long criticized Dynamic Security, making the Int’l ITC’s complaints worth examining.
EPEAT 2.0 registry bans firmware updates that brick third-party ink
Following the launch of the original EPEAT registry in 2006, GEC launched EPEAT 2.0 in December 2025. Per a GEC website, “EPEAT 2.0 criteria are designed to identify more sustainable products, built by sustainability-conscious companies with responsibly managed supply chains.” The updated criteria address “climate change mitigation, sustainable use of resources (circularity), chemicals of concern, and responsible supply chains” across the lifecycle of products from five product categories: imaging equipment (such as printers), computers and displays, phones, servers, and TVs.
In an email discussion with Ars Technica, Tricia Judge, the Int’l ITC’s executive director and general counsel, explained that state, local, and educational (SLED) buyers, as well as consumers value EPEAT registration, saying: