Most HP printer customers affected by the ink subscription lawsuits will receive little to no money—despite years of complaints about HP restricting cartridges and blocking firmware alternatives. The only settled case with court approval involved approximately $720,000 in HP legal costs, but only 3 lead plaintiffs received $5,000 each as monetary compensation. The majority of eligible customers received something far more limited: the option to roll back firmware updates on their LaserJet printers or opt out of future “Dynamic Security” updates. A second earlier settlement involving HP ink cartridges offered an estimated $150 or more per claim for customers who purchased specific OfficeJet models between 2015 and 2017—but that settlement required filing a claim and proof of purchase.
The confusion surrounding these settlements stems from multiple lawsuits filed against HP over different issues involving printer restrictions and proprietary ink systems. Some lawsuits specifically targeted firmware updates that blocked third-party cartridges, while others focused on HP disabling printers when customers cancelled Instant Ink subscriptions. Understanding which settlement applies to your situation—and what it actually provides—is essential before hoping for a payout.
Table of Contents
- What Exactly Are These HP Printer Lawsuits About?
- The LaserJet Printer Settlement—What You Get (And What You Don’t)
- The Ink Cartridge Settlement—How Much Money Was Actually Available?
- How to File a Claim—If Any Settlement Still Accepts Claims
- Why Most HP Customers Got Nothing—The Real Story Behind These Settlements
- The Pending Instant Ink Lawsuit—What’s At Stake
- What This Means for HP Printer Owners Looking Forward
What Exactly Are These HP Printer Lawsuits About?
HP has faced legal action from multiple angles regarding its control over printer hardware and ink supplies. The most high-profile settled case involved LaserJet printers that received firmware updates HP called “Dynamic Security”—updates that prevented customers from using non-HP cartridges. When users tried to print with third-party ink, the printer would simply refuse to work. A class action lawsuit challenged this practice, arguing it was anti-competitive and forced customers to buy expensive HP-brand cartridges. HP settled this case in August 2024, with final court approval arriving in March 2025.
A separate ink cartridge class action, which appears to have settled earlier, targeted similar issues but covered OfficeJet and other consumer-grade HP printers sold between 2015 and 2017. This settlement allocated $1.5 million total for eligible customers who had purchased these printers and ink cartridges during that specific window. Unlike the LaserJet settlement, this one involved actual cash payouts rather than firmware options, though the amount per person depended on how many valid claims were filed. A third lawsuit that attracted significant attention involved HP’s Instant Ink subscription service—a program where HP charges monthly fees for ink deliveries but also disables printers when customers cancel their subscription. This case remained pending as of early 2025 for $5 million in claims, with litigation still ongoing in California. Additionally, a broader lawsuit accusing HP of monopolizing the ink cartridge market altogether was dismissed by a federal judge in October 2025, ending that legal avenue.
The LaserJet Printer Settlement—What You Get (And What You Don’t)
The most recent settled case, approved in March 2025, offered LaserJet printer owners two things: the option to roll back firmware updates on certain printer models and the ability to opt out of future “Dynamic Security” updates. This applies to 21 specific LaserJet printer models that were affected by the restrictive firmware. If you own one of these models, you can theoretically return to an earlier firmware version that allowed third-party cartridges to work, giving you the freedom to buy cheaper generic ink. You can also choose not to accept future updates that might restrict cartridges again. However, this settlement explicitly did not award financial compensation to the majority of affected customers. Only the three named lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit received $5,000 each—a token payment that rarely represents the full cost of overpriced HP cartridges customers purchased over the years.
HP did not admit to any wrongdoing, a common settlement structure that protects the company from broader liability. The settlement was essentially HP paying its own legal costs rather than paying customers. For many affected users, this feels like a hollow victory—they can now use third-party ink, but they cannot recover money already spent on premium HP cartridges. The firmware rollback option does have a practical benefit if you’re still using one of these LaserJet models and routinely buy ink. Reverting to an older firmware version could save you significantly on cartridge costs going forward. But this remedy only works if you’re technically comfortable managing firmware updates, and it doesn’t guarantee HP won’t release a new update in the future that re-restricts third-party cartridges. The real-world value depends on how many more years you plan to use that printer.
The Ink Cartridge Settlement—How Much Money Was Actually Available?
The earlier HP ink cartridge class action settlement allocated $1.5 million to customers who purchased specific OfficeJet and other HP printer models between March 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017. The settlement estimated approximately $150 or more per valid claim, depending on the total number of claims filed. Unlike the LaserJet settlement, this one involved actual cash compensation. Customers affected by this settlement needed to submit proof of purchase—receipts or purchase records showing they bought an HP printer and ink cartridges during that period. The eligibility requirements were strict.
You had to have purchased from specific printer models, during a specific time window, and had to retain documentation of your purchase. Many customers who qualified likely didn’t know about the settlement or missed the claims deadline. Class action settlements typically feature low claims rates because the majority of eligible people never submit paperwork. If fewer people filed claims than anticipated, the per-person payout would have been higher—a counterintuitive dynamic where a smaller participation rate meant a bigger check for those who did claim. One limitation of this settlement was that it addressed the ink cartridge pricing issue but didn’t necessarily cover customers who bought the same printers after 2017 or before 2015. HP’s aggressive cartridge pricing and proprietary lockout existed long before 2015 and continued after 2017, meaning countless customers fell outside the settlement window despite facing identical problems.
How to File a Claim—If Any Settlement Still Accepts Claims
Claiming compensation from an HP ink cartridge settlement requires submitting documentation to the settlement administrator, but many settlements have already closed. The deadline for filing claims in older settlements may have passed—these cases often allow only 6 to 12 months for claim submissions before the process closes. If you believe you’re eligible for the ink cartridge settlement, you would need to search for the specific settlement case number and administrator website to verify whether claims are still being accepted. Official settlement websites typically appear near the top of search results and display claim deadlines prominently. For the LaserJet firmware settlement, the claim process was simpler but offered no money.
You would verify your printer model against the approved list and request the firmware downgrade through HP or the settlement administrator. This didn’t require purchase receipts or extensive documentation, just proof that you own an affected model. However, this option only provides future savings on ink rather than compensation for past purchases. The pending Instant Ink lawsuit has not yet reached settlement, so no claim process exists yet. If and when that case settles, there will be a claims period and notification process, but that could be months or years away depending on litigation speed. Customers should not expect compensation from this case anytime soon.
Why Most HP Customers Got Nothing—The Real Story Behind These Settlements
The gap between what customers expected and what they received stems from several factors. First, HP consistently negotiated settlements that cost the company far less than the potential verdict. Settling in August 2024 for roughly $720,000 in legal costs was likely cheaper than fighting a case that could have resulted in millions in damages. Second, settlement structures that provide non-monetary relief (like firmware options) instead of cash are less expensive to implement. Rolling back firmware costs HP nearly nothing, while writing checks to millions of customers would be prohibitively expensive. Third, and most importantly, HP never admitted wrongdoing in either settlement. By settling without an admission of liability, HP protected itself from additional civil suits or regulatory action.
Customers received a remedy but not an acknowledgment that HP had acted improperly. This structure prioritizes the company’s legal position over customer compensation. A customer who paid $300 for cartridges during the firmware restriction period received no recompense, only a firmware option for future purchases. The LaserJet settlement also faced the harsh reality that determining actual damages was difficult. How much money did each customer overspend on HP cartridges due to the restriction? That amount varied dramatically depending on how much each person printed. Rather than engage in individualized damage calculations, HP and the plaintiff’s lawyers agreed on a structure that provided only three people with money and the rest with an option. This approach minimized hp’s financial liability while technically providing remedy to the entire affected class.
The Pending Instant Ink Lawsuit—What’s At Stake
A $5 million class action lawsuit filed in California accused HP of disabling customers’ printers or cartridges when they cancelled their Instant Ink subscription service. Instant Ink is HP’s subscription model where customers pay monthly for ink delivery, but more importantly for this case, HP appears to have programmed printers to stop functioning properly when subscription status was cancelled. This allegedly forced customers into a choice: keep paying for the subscription or lose printer functionality entirely. The lawsuit remains in active litigation with no settlement yet announced.
If this case settles or results in a judgment for customers, the damages could be more substantial than the LaserJet case. A $5 million settlement fund would provide meaningful per-person compensation to a class of affected customers, depending on how many people were affected. However, litigation in complex tech cases can take years. Customers shouldn’t expect resolution or compensation from this lawsuit in the near term, though it remains an active legal threat to HP that could eventually result in a more customer-friendly settlement.
What This Means for HP Printer Owners Looking Forward
The pattern of these settlements suggests HP faces ongoing legal pressure over ink and cartridge restrictions, but so far those lawsuits have favored HP’s interests through minimal-payout settlements. Future HP printer owners might benefit from knowledge of these cases—for example, avoiding HP LaserJet models unless you’re sure the firmware option will work for you, or investigating whether an HP printer you’re considering has a history of restrictive firmware. The dismissal of the broader ink monopoly lawsuit in October 2025 was a significant legal win for HP, reducing one avenue of customer challenge.
The broader takeaway is that lawsuits against tech companies over proprietary restrictions often conclude with non-monetary settlements that provide symbolic relief rather than actual compensation. If you’re an HP printer customer expecting a check from any of these settlements, the realistic answer is that check is unlikely unless you fall into a narrow window of eligibility for the ink cartridge case and filed a claim before the deadline. Your best strategy is to use any available firmware rollback options, explore third-party cartridge compatibility if your printer allows it, and consider alternatives like Brother or Canon printers for future purchases if ink costs are a concern.
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