HP claims success against counterfeit printing supplies in Philippines!

HP announced the seizure of more than 6,400 counterfeit supplies in the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Mandaue, Bacolod and Angeles. This seizure was conducted by local police teams in Cebu, Bacolod and Angeles between July and September 2012. The authorities seized more than 3,500 counterfeit ink cartridges, close to 2,750 counterfeit toner cartridges and close to 150 various packaging components used to make counterfeit HP cartridges. Eight individuals were arrested and will be subject to criminal prosecution.

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 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 Albert Mateo, Country General Manager, Printing and Personal Systems Group, HP Philippines.

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.

On a global level, HP maintains an aggressive approach to anti-counterfeiting and has conducted nearly 5,000 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.

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. 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.

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