01-27-2008, 07:03 PM
There does not need to be any such cartel. All the companies know the "cheap razor, expensive blades" economic model for selling consumer goods and making the most money. There are only a few companies in the market selling printers and ink. As for third part ink, each knows how to make their ink proprietary. Yes, they have been blocked in some markets from using the more extreme means such as chipping. But some of the third party makers have not helped their group's entries into the market by supplying inferior cartridges which have cast doubt on their quality as a group.