What is the intended function of turning HP policy on or off

[Frommt]

What is the intended function of the setting for turning off HP policy, given that it has no effect on allowing non-HP compatible toner cartridges? Is this function just for appearances?

[Valsimot]

Toner protection policy?  That is used only to lock the toner to a printer, it prevents using a locked toner in other printers. Locked toner can only be used in the printer that locked it.

The toner protection policy doesn't have any effect on using non-HP toner cartridges.

[Frommt]

If you will look at the Setup Menu map for the M404, and I would guess for a great many of the current HP desktop laser printers, you will see under Supply Settings the following two items. Your response is about the second item listed, whereas my question is about the first of these, not the second one:

Cartridge Policy

Cartridge Protection

[Repairatrooper]

Cartridge policy turned off should allow other cartridges, at least it has when we have tested it. Is there any chip on the cartridge you are trying to use?

[Frommt]

My experience has consistently over several years been that disabling the Cartridge Policy button does not open the door to using non-HP cartridges, even ones from highly reputable and qualified manufacturers of non-HP compatible cartridges.

My guess frankly is that HP is keeping the level of confusion high by allowing some non-HP cartridges and not allowing others, so there may be a strategy of creating a fog of confusion that is helpful in terms of HP's money-making interests.

But for sure, I can tell you that disabling the Cartridge Policy does not stop the rejection of non-HP cartridges categorically. Shouldn't the identification of non-HP cartridges be in the form of a warning report, but not a block?

Who makes more money due to a block applying to at least some non-HP cartridges? Hmmm....