Brussels, 15/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has received a new complaint from the company Static Control Components Inc, on the commercial practices of the American manufacturer of ink cartridges, Lexmark International Inc. Following several complaints, the Commission opened an inquiry in 2002, into a possible cartel on the ink cartridges market, in order to see to what extent certain manufacturers (Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark, Canon and Epson, amongst others) put pressure on consumers to support their brands, rather than the recycled products of their rivals. The companies in question have apparently developed a device which prevents their competitors from re-injecting ink into the cartridges they produce, and which are preferred by many consumers because they are cheaper.