HP claims success against counterfeit printing supplies

NEW DELHI: HP announced the seizure of more than 12,000 counterfeit products that includes various ink packages, toner packages, ink security labels, toner security labels, finished inks, finished toners, ink cartridges, toner cartridges, toner bubble bags, barcode stickers and user manuals.

They also included clamshell packing machine, ink filling machine, laminating machines and more than 5,000 additional production items and around 79,900 toner security labels. These seizures were conducted by SAACF team in coordination with the local police in Bengaluru, Delhi and Gandhidham.

They executed an enforcement action on assembly operations in the Ashok Nagar area of Bengaluru, Daryaganj and Sitaram Bazar suburbs of Delhi. In Gandhidham, the SAACF team in coordination with the local police executed an enforcement action on two printing operations for counterfeit toner security labels. In addition to the seizure of these counterfeit goods, six individuals were detained in Bengaluru, four in Gandhidham while a criminal investigation is being conducted.

HP appointed contractors who assisted in this successful enforcement action by providing law enforcement officials with intelligence regarding the existence and location of these counterfeit goods. HP’s global anti-counterfeit program incorporates industry-leading anti-counterfeiting practices and partners with law enforcement agencies to combat the manufacture, distribution, and sale of counterfeit HP printer cartridges. “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 and often 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, Director, HP– Brand Protection, 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. Refilled cartridges containing inferior inks and toners are then inserted into this packaging that closely resembles genuine HP packaging. The counterfeit cartridges are ultimately purchased by consumers that believe them to be genuine.

On a global level, HP maintains an aggressive approach to anti-counterfeiting and has conducted more than 4,723 investigations in 88 countries over the last four years. This activity has resulted in the seizure of more than 47.23 million units worth of counterfeit products and components (investigations and actions have occurred in every continent except Antarctica. In APJ, over the last four years, HP conducted 2,641 investigations in multiple countries resulting in 2,111 enforcement actions raids and seizures by authorities) seizing over 15 million units of counterfeit products and components.

Helping consumers identify counterfeit printing supplies

As part of its global anti-counterfeiting program, HP takes a proactive global approach to alert and educate 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 display a security seal with color shifting technology that helps consumers easily identify original HP supplies.