Editing Bambu Lab Authorization Control System (section)

==Comparisons to similar practices by other companies==

Bambu Lab's new authorization and authentication requirements have been compared to a number of practices by traditional printer manufacturers, such as [[HP]] or [[Epson]], who have also faced backlash around their handling of [[digital rights management]] (DRM){{Citation needed}}. These comparisons address:
*'''Forced updates''': Firmware updates have rendered third-party ink cartridges incompatible, forcing users to purchase proprietary consumables.
*'''Restricted features''': Scanner/printer combos that will not scan if the ink is empty.
*'''Consumer backlash''': Users criticized these updates as anti-consumer, with some pursuing [[class action lawsuit|class-action lawsuits]] for deceptive practices.<ref>https://www.classaction.org/hp-printer-ink-firmware-lawsuit</ref>

Like 2D printers, Bambu Lab's update restricts functionality previously available to users and pushes them toward proprietary software and cloud-based control.

A parallel specific to the 3D-printing industry can also be drawn from the now-defunct 3D-printer manufacturer [[MakerBot]], whose shift from open-source, DIY-focused machines in 2012 to closed-source, proprietary machines (similarly to Bambu Labs), ultimately drove customers to less-expensive, open-source competitors.<ref>https://hackaday.com/2016/04/28/the-makerbot-obituary/</ref> MakerBot was also accused of asserting ownership over publicly available, open-source designs uploaded to its 3D print repository, Thingiverse.<ref>https://techcrunch.com/2014/05/28/makerbot-responds-to-critics-who-claim-it-is-stealing-community-ip/</ref> These factors contributed to MakerBot steadily losing their position and reputation as an industry leader, before getting absorbed by rival Ultimaker in 2022.