HP claims success against counterfeit printing supplies in Malaysia

Protects customers from fraudulent products through the seizure of more than 11,520 counterfeit products

KUALA LUMPUR, 8 November 2012 — HP announced the seizure of over 11,520 counterfeit supplies in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This seizure was conducted by HP’s Southeast Asia ACF team and the local enforcement division of the Malaysian Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-Operatives and Consumerism in Kuala Lumpur on 16 October 2012. The authorities seized more than 719 counterfeit ink cartridges, 3,132 counterfeit toner cartridges and 7,669 various components used to make counterfeit HP cartridges. 

The entity, who was also a HP managed partner, was selling into the Malaysian market. The company has been terminated as a partner effective 1 November 2012 as a result of this successful seizure. The total seizure value is estimated at RM 913,234 (USD 299,421). Investigators are working to identify additional upstream suppliers and downstream customers.

HP collaborated with local law enforcement 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 customers 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 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 customers. 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 customers 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 the same period.(1)


Helping customers identify counterfeit printing supplies

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

All HP cartridge packaging in the Asia Pacific region displays a security seal with color shifting technology that helps customers 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.


(1)       Figures derived from seizures during the period of 2008-2011.

(2)       The HP Mobile Authentication program is available only with security labels that feature the QR code. The code may be read with any standard QR code reader. 

(3)       Compatible with Android 2.2 and later and Apple iOS 4.2 and later and later devices (iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and 3rd and 4th generation iPod touch) that support multitasking. Works with HP ePrint-enabled printers and MFPs. AirPrint and iOS 4.2 and later devices require an 802.11 “wireless network” connection to the printer. Wireless performance is dependent upon physical environment and distance from the access point.