Local authorities seized more than 60,000 counterfeit products in 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 12 December, 2011 – HP announced today a new Mobile Authentication tool to help customers identify counterfeit ink and toner cartridges easily and conveniently.
Through the HP eSupplies mobile app, the new HP Mobile Authentication tool allows customers to scan the security label on the packaging of ink and toner cartridges to verify their authenticity.
“The new HP Mobile Authentication tool features an innovative technology that will better protect customers from fraudulent printing supplies,” said Bernard Chiang, Country General Manager, Imaging and Printing Group, Hewlett Packard (M) Sdn Bhd. “HP takes a proactive approach to alerting customers on how to identify counterfeit printing supplies. Through our anti-counterfeiting efforts, HP is determined to protect our customers and our brand.”
The HP Mobile Authentication tool features a QR code on both HP Original ink and toner cartridge security labels. After checking for the label’s holographic properties to verify authenticity, customers can capture the QR label with a smartphone to access the HP Mobile Authentication tool and validate the label. (1) Valid labels generate a confirmation message, which indicates that the cartridge has a valid code. Invalid labels generate a warning message and a link for more information at www.hp.com/apac/nofakes.
Customers who cannot scan QR codes can also validate the new label by entering the alpha numeric code printed next to the QR Code on the new security label at the HP Mobile Authentication website. The url for this website (www.hp.com/go/ok) is printed on the new security label.(2)
The HP Mobile Authentication tool is now available for Original HP ink cartridge and will be available for Original HP toner cartridge beginning in December 2011.
All HP cartridge packaging in the Asia Pacific region currently displays a security seal with color shifting technology that helps consumers easily identify original HP supplies. Customers can learn more about how to use this security seal as well as other best practices to avoid purchasing counterfeit cartridges at: www.hp.com/apac/nofakes.
Success Against Counterfeit Printing Supplies
Over the past year, over 60,000 counterfeit supplies in Malaysia were seized by local police teams. The authorities seized more than 5,000 counterfeit ink cartridges, 55,000 counterfeit toner cartridges and various components used to make counterfeit HP cartridges.
HP collaborated with local law enforcement agencies to make this action possible. HP vigorously defends its brand and intellectual property for Original HP supplies by engaging in industry-leading anti-counterfeiting practices to combat the fraudulent manufacture, distribution, and sale of counterfeit HP supplies products.
“Our commitment to our customers is the driving force behind the vigilance of our anti-counterfeit team, as we understand how the sale of counterfeit HP products negatively impacts our customer and the HP brand. With counterfeit HP print cartridges, customers purchase what they often assume to be a genuine HP product, but they instead receive a cartridge that provides them with inferior print quality at best and often times a cartridge that fails to perform at all,” said Jeff Kwasny, HP’s IPG Brand Protection and Anti-Counterfeit Manager.
A counterfeit product is a product which has been made to look identical to or substantially indistinguishable from the genuine or original product, usually for the purpose of deceiving consumers. Counterfeiting of printing supplies usually involves the illegal printing of HP-branded boxes, labels and security seals. Often refilled cartridges containing inferior inks and toners are used and inserted into this packaging that closely resembles genuine HP packaging. The counterfeit cartridges are ultimately purchased by consumers who believe them to be genuine.
The diligence of the HP anti-counterfeiting program in the Asia Pacific region has resulted in law enforcement agencies successfully confiscating more than 20 million units of counterfeit cartridges, packaging, and components in the last 4 years.(3)
On a global level, HP maintains an aggressive approach to anti-counterfeiting and has conducted nearly 5000 investigations in 88 countries over the last 4 years. This activity has resulted in the seizure of over 30 million units worth of counterfeit printing supplies products worldwide over this same time period.(3)
(1) The HP Mobile Authentication QR code may be read with any standard QR code reader or with the reader included with the HP eSupplies app, which is a free app for iPhone available at the iTunes App Store.
(2) The HP Mobile Authentication program is available only with security labels that feature the QR code.
(3) Figures derived from seizures during the period of 2007-2010.
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