Canon printers disable scanning when ink is low

Canon printers disable scanning when ink is low documents Canon's practice of forcing all-in-one PIXMA printers into a hard error state when ink cartridges are low or empty, blocking the scanner & fax functions even though scanning uses optical sensors & requires zero ink.^[1] David Leacraft filed a class-action lawsuit in October 2021 (Case No. 2:21-cv-05688, E.D.N.Y.) after his $100 Canon PIXMA MG2522 refused to scan when ink ran out; the complaint named 21+ affected Canon models & sought $5 million or more in damages.^[2] Canon settled privately; the Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice was filed on March 7, 2023, with no public admission of fault.^[3]

Canon markets its PIXMA multifunction devices as "all-in-one" printers capable of printing, scanning, copying, & faxing. The scanner component operates independently from the print subsystem: it uses a CIS or CCD optical sensor bar, an LED illumination strip, & a stepper motor to capture document images digitally. None of these components consume ink.^[4]

Canon's firmware ties all device functions to ink cartridge status. When any cartridge registers as low or empty, the printer enters an error state that blocks scanning, faxing, & copying until the cartridge is replaced. Canon support representatives have confirmed this design is intentional: all ink tanks must contain ink for any feature to operate.^[2]

The Leacraft complaint documented that Canon had known about consumer objections for years: "Canon has known for years that its representations and advertisements regarding the All-in-One Printers being multifunction devices were false and misleading, and that it fails to disclose material information to consumers. For example, since at least 2015, consumers have been posting on Canon's Community webpage about their scanners not functioning when their ink cartridges are low or empty." The complaint quoted a January 2015 Canon Community post: "I have a MX330. Works great otherwise but if I run out of colour ink or remove an ink cartridge it wont scan. I'm SCANNING. why does this affect scanning. It shouldn't."^[3]

The stated justification is printhead protection. In a 2016 forum post, Canon personnel said the precautions "are in place to prevent damage to the printer from occurring if printing with no ink is attempted," explaining that "the printer uses the ink to cool the printhead during the printing process."^[1] This rationale does not explain why scanning is disabled, since scanning never activates the printhead & consumes no ink.

The lockout applies across 21+ Canon PIXMA models, including the MG2522, MG6320, & others identified in the Leacraft complaint.^[2] When the firmware detects a low or empty cartridge, the device displays an error code & refuses all operations, including scan-to-computer commands initiated from a connected PC. Canon's own support documentation describes a workaround: on non-G-series PIXMA models, pressing & holding the "Stop" button for at least 5 seconds disables the ink detection system temporarily, allowing scanning to proceed.^[5]

The complaint described the consumer impact directly: "Canon does not represent or warn consumers that ink is a necessary component in order to scan or fax documents. As a result, consumers are forced to incur unexpected and unnecessary burden and expense in the form of ink purchases or in the alternative be unable to scan or fax documents using the so-called all-in-one device."^[2] The Leacraft filing noted that this lockout produces "an increase in ink sales from which Canon obtains significant profits."^[2]

Canon didn't issue a public statement in response to either lawsuit. The company's support documentation continues to require ink for all device functions. Canon settled the Leacraft case privately; settlement terms were not disclosed.^[3]

David Leacraft of Queens, New York, purchased a Canon PIXMA MG2522 from Walmart for approximately $100 in March 2021. When ink ran low, the device refused to scan. Leacraft filed a class-action complaint on October 12, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (Case No. 2:21-cv-05688).^[3]

The complaint raised 3 causes of action:

• Violations of New York General Business Law Sections 349 & 350: Canon engaged in deceptive advertising by marketing the devices as scanners without disclosing the ink dependency.^[2]
• Breach of express warranty: The device didn't function as advertised under ordinary use conditions.^[6]
• Unjust enrichment: Canon profited from consumers forced to purchase unnecessary ink cartridges to access scanning features.^[2]

The complaint stated: "There is no legitimate purpose for selling the All-In-One Printers with scanning or faxing functionality that is directly tied to existence or level of ink contained in the devices."^[1] The suit sought more than $5 million in damages.^[2]

A Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice was filed on March 7, 2023, indicating a private settlement. Canon didn't admit fault. Settlement terms were not publicly disclosed.^[3]

Christopher Bozyk filed a second class action on August 31, 2023, in the same court (Case No. 2:23-cv-06554). His attorney, Neal J. Deckant of Bursor & Fisher P.A., argued that Canon had known about the scanning lockout issue "as far back as at least 2015."^[7]

The Bozyk complaint raised the same core claims as Leacraft: that marketing a device as "all-in-one" without warning customers about the ink-scanning dependency constituted false advertising. The case was voluntarily dismissed on October 11, 2023, 41 days after filing.^[7]

Canon isn't the only manufacturer facing litigation over ink-related restrictions. Keypoint Intelligence noted that HP, Epson, Brother, & other manufacturers have faced similar legal challenges "for reasons relating to device consumables, such as not allowing the use of third-party consumables."^[8] HP has faced separate litigation over printer cartridge DRM & firmware updates that block third-party ink cartridges, with multiple class-action settlements paid out in the U.S. & Europe. Canon has been the primary target of U.S. litigation over the specific practice of blocking the scanner, not just the printer, when ink runs out, a form of planned obsolescence that ties unrelated hardware functions to consumable purchases.^[4]