By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 14/08/2026The interoperability-driven dynamism that disciplined or displaced tech companies that abused their market power was a *mass* phenomenon. The printer cartel doesn't need to be able to charge *everyone* $10,000/gallon for ink. 65/ 1130
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 14/08/2026If a few people figure jailbreak their printers, that doesn't stop the grift. Even better if the people who *do* use generic ink must depend on anonymous, shadowy businesses that don't have customer service departments you can call when your printer gets an update that breaks ink compatibility. 66/ 1130
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 14/08/2026Better still if these competitors lack an address you can send a process-server to if you're stuck with thousands in useless ink cartridges after one of those updates. To make generic ink a viable check against the abuses of HP and its colored water mafia, you need a *counter-industry*. 67/ 1131
