So then where are the old firmwares for download? Surely you wouldn't care if I downgraded my firmware if you aren't trying to brick my printer
this post was submitted on 17 Mar 2025
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If your printer is working fine, and is not on the network, leave the firmware alone.
I notice it talks about not blocking 3rd party inks, but not (that I saw) about deliberately degrading quality. I hope they're not doing that either!- but that was the recent accusation.
I read a bit on that though, and what I think happened, is someone got lower quality while using 3rd party ink, after an OTA firmware update, and called customer service. The customer service rep couldn't answer how to fix it, except using genuine Brother ink, and the user asked a careful question about whether that was the only way. Rep answers yes, which is probably not true but seems like the 'right' answer to give; user interprets it as the Rep knowing that there's a secret and deliberate degradation of quality with 3rd party ink.
Really because it happened to me until I was able to force a software roll back which required obtaining their closed proprietary service software.
I hope this is true because we can't afford to lose the last good guy printer manufacturer.
I'm glad to hear this because I read the other article on the day my Epson decided to suddenly take umbrage with my third party cart after using it without issue for 2 years.
As there is no other viable alternative for a relatively-no-nonsense printer on the market than Brother's offerings it sounds like I'm not completely out of options quite yet.
I'm using a Brother laser with third-party cartridges, and everything still works after the recent firmware update. So I'm inclined to believe them.
I can confirm this. Latest firmware and a generic toner cart. I just printed some stuff yesterday
Same. Updated firmware today.
I actually wondered that at the time simply because whenever a new person discovers the horrors of HP printers people in the comments are always boosting Brother printers.
Like, if Canon had been accused of bricking third-party printer ink I'm not sure it would have made the feed.
Exactly. The style of accusations, and the aggressive tone the perpetrators use… This really looks and feels like a smear campaign against Brother.
Problem of course, is that 100 people see the lie (most believe the first thing they hear even if false), then 15 see the truth, and 10 believe it.
But is it a lie?
Here's what I've seen so far:
- Rossmann reports on claims about Brother blocking third party cartridges on auto-updating firmware, and not providing older firmware
- Brother denies intentionally blocking third party cartridges
There's still the claim about the older firmware. If it was available, it would be pretty easy for customers to prove that a change in the firmware caused issues w/ third-party cartridges:
- cartridge works fine
- upgrade
- cartridge doesn't work
- downgrade
- cartridge works fine
That doesn't prove it was intentional, it just proves it was the firmware update that caused the problem. If users want to stick w/ an older firmware, they should be allowed to, because Brother shouldn't be able to decide what firmware they use.
The broader point here is certainly valid though, I'm just unconvinced that it's applicable. Why should we trust Brother on this when they make the way to prove the issue nigh impossible?
"A lie will go round the world while truth is pulling its boots on." - C. H. Spurgeon (1859)
And those ten who believe it will be the most virulent and arduous propagators of that lie.
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