HP Claims Success with over RM 1.8 million worth of Counterfeit Printing Supplies seized in Port Klang

Protects customers from fraudulent products through the seizure of more than 13,000 counterfeit products

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 13 July 2012 – HP recently announced the seizure of over 13,000 counterfeit supplies in Malaysia valued at more than RM 1.8 million. This raid was conducted by local police teams in Port Klang resulting in the seizure of 428 finished Ink- cartridges, 3,600 finished Toner cartridges, 2,500 unfinished Toner cartridges, 2,000 Toner flat packages, 5,461 Toner security labels and other equipment, supplies and machinery.

HP collaborated with the Enforcement Division of the Malaysian Ministry of Domestic Trade 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. Through our anti-counterfeiting efforts, HP is determined to protect our customers and our brand,” said Jeff Kwasny, Global Brand Protection and Anti-Counterfeit Manager, Printing and Personal Systems, HP.

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 and components in the last 4 years. (1)

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 nearly 35 million units of counterfeit printing cartridges and components worldwide over this same time period. (1)

Helping consumers identify counterfeit printing supplies
As part of its global anti-counterfeiting program, HP takes a proactive approach to alerting and educating consumers on how to identify counterfeit printing supplies. HP also incorporates state-of-the-art technology in their products and cartridge packaging to help consumers identify fraudulent supplies.

All HP cartridge packaging in the Asia Pacific region displays a security seal with colour shifting technology that helps consumers easily identify original HP supplies. From last year, HP also introduced security seals with QR codes, allowing for Mobile Authentication with the QR code reader on customers’ mobile device or the HP eSupplies mobile app (2,3) . 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.