Compatible ink (or compatible toner) is manufactured by third party manufacturers and is designed to work in designated printers without infringing on patents of printer manufacturers. Compatible inks and toners may come in a variety of packaging including sealed plastic wraps or taped plastic wraps. Regardless of packaging, compatible products are generally priced lower than original equipment manufacturer (OEM) brand inks and toners. While there has been considerable debate and litigation involving the ink and toner patents of printer manufacturers, third party manufacturers continue to thrive. Manufacturers of compatible ink and toner products currently control about 25% the ink and toner market well over $8 Billion annually.
Famous quotes containing the words compatible and/or ink:
“I have no ambition to surprise my reader. Castles with unknown passages are not compatible with my homely muse.”
—Anthony Trollope (1815–1882)
“International business may conduct its operations with scraps of paper, but the ink it uses is human blood.”
—Eric Ambler (b. 1909)