Canon is being sued for not enabling consumers to use the scan or fax functions in multi-function devices if the ink runs out on some printer jobs models. Canon is well known for making photography equipment and printers for business and household users. Canon USA is being sued as part of a class-action lawsuit by David Leacraft, who claims the business engaged in misleading marketing and unjust enrichment practices.
Leacraft filed the case after learning that his Pixma MG2522 printer, which was touted as "all-in-one" equipment, would not work as a scanner when the ink cartridges were low or empty. Furthermore, faxing functions would be disabled if some printers ran out of ink.
Of course, scanning and faxing documents do not require ink. Therefore the complaint emphasizes that these services should work regardless of ink levels. As a result, the complaint, which includes over 100 class members, seeks at least $5 million in damages.
Unjust enrichment is one of the alleged violations in the complaint; according to the lawsuit, Canon disabled these functions to maximize profits by selling replacement ink cartridges. According to the complaint, other alleged violations include New York General Business Law 349 and 350, Canon breaking express warranties, and failing to disclose material facts.
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"As opposed to the "single function" printers it sells, Canon calls these multifunction devices a "3-in-1" or "4-in-1" for the fact they purportedly provide three or four functions. In truth, the All-in-One Printers do not scan or fax documents when the devices have low or empty ink cartridges (the "Design Issue"). Canon's advertising claims are false, misleading, and reasonably likely to deceive the public.
Canon does not represent or warn users that ink is required to scan or fax documents. As a result, users are compelled to pay an unexpected and unneeded burden and price in the form of ink purchases, or else they are unable to scan or fax documents using the so-called all-in-one gadget.
There is no purpose or technical jobs basis to build All-in-One Printers with an ink level detection capability that causes the scanner to stop working when the ink is low or empty. Canon developed the All-in-One Printers so that users must keep ink in their devices whether or not they want to print. As a result, Canon's ink sales increase, resulting in large profits."
To bolster its claims, the complaint includes information demonstrating how inkjet printers are being marketed at or below cost, with corporations expecting to benefit from ink cartridge sales. The issues, as revealed by BleepingComputer, have been documented since at least 2016. Support representatives answered that ink cartridges must be placed in the machine and contain ink to use all of the printer's functionality.
"The PIXMA MX710 must have all ink tanks installed and they all must contain ink. If you attempt to print with no ink or an empty ink, you will risk damaging the printer," a support agent said on the Canon forum. This specific response was included as a piece of evidence in the lawsuit.
According to the complaint, the all-in-one printers affected include more than 20 models discovered thus far. The class-action lawsuit was filed on Tuesday and is awaiting approval from the court.
