This makes for quite chilling reading especially if you follow the link. I am not arguing specifically for the use of 3rd party inks, though if you think about it Fuji cameras can shoot Kodak film without a problem and we all mix CD makes with different hardware. As usual with the European commission its too little too late but at least its a start. I don't buy the argument from the manufacturers either that if they were to charge less for inks then the costs of the printers would suddenly become hugely expensive. This could be extremely good news for the labs again!
It just disgusts me that Epson can create a chip so that we are unable to even use their own products but at a cheaper price!! The answer is clear we have to start making ourselves heard in every way possible via the internet and any other means. As I wrote this message a local dealer in my home town in Cornwall with a small shop just contacted me and he is now prepared to deal for �334 including VAT and delivery and his buying power won't be a fraction of a big London dealer. I've saved �104 this morning just by saying I'm not happy and that was purely through one photographer voicing his concerns on this forum and even allowing for my rusty maths that�s a massive percentage saving. If there were thousands of us doing the same thing can you imagine the combined benefits we would all receive? Ashley Venceremos! Hasta la victoria, socialismo o muerte! PS Just got another call and we've fallen to �329... francis newman 18/2/03 1:48 pm > In fact, the European Commission is already looking into this > situation. have a look at this link which makes interesting reading. > > http://www.dp-now.com/news/May2002/dpnnews201/dpnnews201.html > > I'm sure I read somewhere in the last few weeks about some initial > findings from the commission - which were - of course - disputed by the > manufacturers. > > Also, this is interesting > > "New EU law may hit printer makers > > Printer makers could lose significant revenues and be forced to change > the design and manufacture of their ink cartridges. The European > Parliament on Wednesday gave its final backing to a law that bans > companies from making products that cannot be reused because of > specific design features. The law takes effect from 2006. Proponents > of the measure say this would outlaw ink cartridges with chips that > prevent them from being refilled - a feature on many cartridges made by > printer manufacturers. However, some EU governments, which have to > implement the new law, have disputed the scope of its provisions, > arguing it might not extend to cartridges. Non-reusable cartridges > make up some 90 per cent of the $30bn a year global market and account > for a significant part of the printer manufacturers' earnings. The EU > law could hit HP the hardest, because the US company depends heavily on > revenues from ink cartridge sales and is the largest cartridge producer > in Europe. > > Financial Times, December 18, 2002" > > Best > > Francis Newman > Webshot Ltd > =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE
