this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2026
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446
An open source repairable printer. (www.crowdsupply.com)
submitted 4 days ago by floofloof@lemmy.ca to c/technology@lemmy.world
59 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/47449079

I stumbled across this link in the comment of another post, and thought it was super promising!

Someone mentioned something about in the US, this would be illegal due to DRM laws - not sure about the specifics of this, but regardless an open source printer seems like something we've needed for ages, as printers are something that always seem like way more of a headache then they need to be. It seems like such a simple technology that has existed for quite some time, but they are always such a pain to deal with. (Maybe it's just my bad luck with printers?)

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[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 53 points 4 days ago (8 children)

Illegal due to US govt wanting discrete traceable patterns printed so they can track money duplication on colour printer or track Ransom letters?

[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 35 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Good thing I live outside of the US then ;)

This looks awesome...hope they make it, I'd buy one if it isn't toooo expensive.

[–] bleistift2@sopuli.xyz 27 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I imagine that similar regulations exist in the EU. For instance, no copy machine will let you copy a Euro bill.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EURion_constellation

[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 4 points 4 days ago

Yeah, that's the anti-copy mechamism I recall reading about long ago. I wonder if/how this project will deal with that?

[–] kubica@fedia.io 26 points 4 days ago

Freedom strikes again.

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 days ago

https://www.eff.org/issues/printers

Not legal, it's not a law. The government "persuaded" the manufacturers.

[–] Goretantath@lemmy.world 15 points 4 days ago

So what? Thats exactly why I WANT a custom built printer, fucking spying shits.

[–] HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Well, it being open source helps get around that

[–] TragicNotCute@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Where are you seeing that it’s illegal? I own a pen plotter that can print things without tracking dots and that’s not illegal. I don’t see why this would be any different.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It was a question. And wasn't pen plotters since they can't reproduce money, and are more rare for consumers

[–] TragicNotCute@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Using the tool for illegal activities is illegal, owning a printer capable of producing fake notes isn’t.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I think the original query was are these illegal to sell in USA due to not having FBI traceability?

[–] TragicNotCute@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I’m saying no. I could find nothing on the books that prohibits specific printer tech or mandates hidden tracing be added for it to be legal.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago

Ah, cool

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 6 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Come and Take it

[–] zr0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Nope, this was only done on laser printers and not all of them.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

My non laser colour had it. Left yellow dots on photos, drove me crazy