[codemiscreant]

Sure, but previously this printer explicitly supported black only modes with no regard for the other inks. Brother decided it was easy money acting like the other makers, and this is likely to percolate to their other products.

[account42]

It may also be due to legal reasons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_Identification_Code

[pseudalopex]

Legal reasons? Or secret government pressure reasons? The article mentioned no laws.