That should be illegal.
The legal 'bite' that has been attempted to be used to make these tactics work in the US (with varying success) is the DMCA. [2] [3] [4]. The argument goes, if you try to break the mechanism that locks down the print cartridge, that counts as circumventing a copy protection device. [5]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Computer_Entertainment,_I....
[2] https://www.cnet.com/news/lexmark-invokes-dmca-in-toner-suit...
[3] http://brandonw.net/skylanders/activision.pdf
[4] http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/23/texas_instruments_ca...
No. It is willingness to abuse others when it is possible to get away with it. It is a matter of morality and conscience, nothing natural.
The people making up the company should have. That is, unless they want to live in a society, where homo homini lupus est.
Best to write your congressman first. When the laws are clearly success in court is more likely. Right now HP is twisting some legal arguments in a way that holds up to the letter of the law.