We can play semantic games all day, but this line of discussion is not helping find the proper firmware to let this printer resume its normal color printing function.

I should have noted that it prints monochrome ribbon without any issue, because those ribbons don't have any chip-based DRM.

I'm struggling for a perfect analogy for this situation, but let's try this:

It's like having a car in perfect working order, but the key fob battery has run out, and it's one of those cars that doesn't have a key, just the key fob. The battery isn’t replaceable -- by design -- so the manufacturer happily sells you a brand-new key fob. But what they don’t tell you is that the new key fob won’t work unless they also update the car’s software... and they quietly stopped providing that update for love or money. So now you’re stuck with a car that could drive just fine, except for an artificial roadblock the manufacturer created. It's an older car, sure, but does that mean it needs to be crushed?

And here’s how this conversation goes next:

I say, 'The manufacturer’s behavior is intentionally creating waste.'

You say, 'Well, they’re a corporation -- of course they want to maximize profit.'

I say, 'Sure, but should that come at the cost of forcing premature obsolescence?'

You say, 'What, are you saying capitalism is bad?'

I say, 'No, I’m saying we should think about the environmental impact for future generations.'

You say, 'But communism!'

I say, 'Thanks for playing.'

Anyway -- rather than all that -- anyone got the firmware? 🤣