“It is well-documented that ink is not required in order to scan or to fax a document, and it is certainly possible to manufacture an All-in-One printer that scans or faxes when the device is out of ink”
HP all-in-ones refuse to scan or fax when the ink runs low. Scanning uses no ink. HP’s own support agent admitted the printer “is designed in such a way” that it stops working without a cartridge. HP already paid $1.35 million in Europe over cartridge DRM, and Canon settled the same scanner claim last year. Holding your scanner hostage for ink money is the business model, and the fines are a rounding error.