Anti-counterfeiting Measures Research Articles

Strategies for Brand Protection -Korean Anti-Counterfeit Laws and Measures-

“당신이 그것을 만들 수 있다면, 당신은 그것을 위조 할 수 있다.” 거의 모든 제품은 위조 될 수 있고 위조되어 왔다. 오늘날, 모조품 문제는 세계 무역의 7%를 차지하는 국제적인 병폐가 되었다. 많은 이해 관계자들의 지속적인 노력에도 불구하고 위조 상품의 문제는 보다 기발하고도 애매한 수단을 통해 계속 줄어들지 않고 있다. 그러나 위조는 방지 될 수 있다. 지식 재산권의 관점을 통해 위조 문제에 접근함으로써, 이 논문은 한국에서 위조에 대응하기 위해 가능한 민사, 형사 및 통관 대책과 정부의 발의를 설명한다.

Enhanced anti-counterfeiting measures for additive manufacturing: coupling lanthanide nanomaterial chemical signatures with blockchain technology

An anti-counterfeiting method is introduced by doping optically-active nanomaterials into printed parts, non-destructively measuring the part's chemical signatures arising from the taggants, and linking the resulting signature data to a blockchain.

Values in motion: anti-counterfeiting measures and the securitization of pharmaceutical flows

ABSTRACTThe past decade has seen an increase in anti-counterfeiting practices, especially in the pharmaceutical field. These practices aim at reducing the number of bad medicines available on the market, especially in countries where pharmaceutical regulation is still weak. But they have been accused of serving the interests of Big Pharma by reinforcing intellectual property instead of promoting better quality medicines. Based on a study of the controversies provoked by anti-counterfeiting laws and devices, this paper analyses anti-counterfeiting politics and shows: (a) the aim of this mode of government is to discriminate between medicines in order to regulate the value attached to distribution processes and (b) the tensions and contradictions which characterize anti-counterfeiting discourses and practices. As such, a central characteristic of pharmaceutical markets is the shift of value conflicts towards circulation and distribution rather than production. The securitization of pharmaceutical flows, rather than being in addition to the production of pharmaceuticals, emerges as a new disputed way of producing economic value, legality and social legitimacy for globalized technical commodities such as medicines.

Inkjet Printing Based Mono-layered Photonic Crystal Patterning for Anti-counterfeiting Structural Colors.

Photonic crystal structures can be created to manipulate electromagnetic waves so that many studies have focused on designing photonic band-gaps for various applications including sensors, LEDs, lasers, and optical fibers. Here, we show that mono-layered, self-assembled photonic crystals (SAPCs) fabricated by using an inkjet printer exhibit extremely weak structural colors and multiple colorful holograms so that they can be utilized in anti-counterfeit measures. We demonstrate that SAPC patterns on a white background are covert under daylight, such that pattern detection can be avoided, but they become overt in a simple manner under strong illumination with smartphone flash light and/or on a black background, showing remarkable potential for anti-counterfeit techniques. Besides, we demonstrate that SAPCs yield different RGB histograms that depend on viewing angles and pattern densities, thus enhancing their cryptographic capabilities. Hence, the structural colorations designed by inkjet printers would not only produce optical holograms for the simple authentication of many items and products but also enable a high-secure anti-counterfeit technique.

Multi-criterial Selection of Track and Trace Technologies for an Anti-counterfeiting Strategy

Offering a large variety of benefits, track and trace technologies are increasingly implemented in recent years. Not only do they allow for quality and efficiency control and improvements, but also serve as anti-counterfeiting measures. The exact technology choice is, however, still the main challenge faced by decision makers. Addressing this selection, this paper enables decision makers to choose appropriate traceability technology for an anti-counterfeiting strategy adapted to the needs of their individual company. The method introduced follows a three step approach: definition of key requirement dimensions, quantification of the introduced dimensions and finally a multi-criteria prioritization model for countermeasures. Focusing on technology choice from an anti-counterfeiting perspective, the deduced selection criteria are furthermore transferable to general supply-chain and industry 4.0 traceability strategies.

United we stand, divided we fall: How firms can engage consumers in their fight against counterfeits

Counterfeit goods are rampant in today's global business world. Original brand manufacturers usually appeal to governments, international organizations, distribution partners, and their own employees to fight counterfeits. This overlooks one important stakeholder: the consumer. However, eradicating counterfeiting cannot be accomplished without eliminating consumer demand. In this article, we describe how consumers have changed in the way they relate to and engage with brands and counterfeits. At the same time, the advent of new media and the Internet have not only opened new distribution channels—particularly for counterfeits—but also new ways to address and reach consumers. These changes in basic parameters call for a fresh look at consumer-directed anti-counterfeiting measures (CAMs). Based on a summary of extant literature and current managerial insights derived from 15 interviews with high- to low-end luxury brand protection experts in Italy and Hong Kong, we suggest a portfolio of CAMs that (1) takes into account different consumers’ relationship with the brand and the counterfeit (weak to strong) and (2) differs in how actively the CAMs engage the consumers as partners against crime (low to high). At the end of the contribution, we offer practical suggestions and recommendations for action.

Narrowing the Gaps in Global Disputes: the Case of Counterfeits in Kenya

This article investigates the nature and potential trajectories of global disputes. Conventional accounts of global disputes often see them as inherently open-ended so that actors can always roll back previous defeats; alternatively, path-dependent accounts emphasize the likelihood of those who prevail in early struggles to reproduce their advantaged position. Like path-dependent accounts, I argue that disputes are nested, so that the goals and possible outcomes of new disputes are bounded by the results of earlier disputes—but rather than enlarging the gap between the parties to the dispute by reproducing advantages, nested disputes, on the contrary, lead to the narrowing of positions and to lower stakes. I illustrate this argument by describing two constitutive moments in the debate over intellectual property rights in Kenya: first, the debate around the Industrial Property Act over the exceptions to intellectual property rights; second, the debate around the Anti-Counterfeit Act over whether anti-counterfeit measures should apply to medicines.

Counterfeit Integrated Circuits: Detection, Avoidance, and the Challenges Ahead

The counterfeiting of electronic components has become a major challenge in the 21st century. The electronic component supply chain has been greatly affected by widespread counterfeit incidents. A specialized service of testing, detection, and avoidance must be created to tackle the worldwide outbreak of counterfeit integrated circuits (ICs). So far, there are standards and programs in place for outlining the testing, documenting, and reporting procedures. However, there is not yet enough research addressing the detection and avoidance of such counterfeit parts. In this paper we will present, in detail, all types of counterfeits, the defects present in them, and their detection methods. We will then describe the challenges to implementing these test methods and to their effectiveness. We will present several anti-counterfeit measures to prevent this widespread counterfeiting, and we also consider the effectiveness and limitations of these anti-counterfeiting techniques.

Enterprise Modeling Framework for Counterfeit Parts in Defense Systems

Increasingly, there is concern about the problem and potential consequences of counterfeit parts in the defense supply chain and defense systems. Counterfeit parts have different performance and failure characteristics than genuine parts and can result in degraded system availability, reliability and performance in the field, not to mention critical safety issues. Thus, there is an imperative to understand counterfeiting and potential ways to prevent or contain it. Today's systems are composed of multitudes of constituents – major sub-systems, which in turn consist of sub-systems, which consist of components, and so on. Likewise, the supply chain consists of multiple tiers of suppliers who provide the constituents. This is a complex environment in which to address the counterfeit parts problem. In addition, counterfeiters can potentially adapt to and overcome anti-counterfeiting measures, and non-counterfeiting actors may adapt to such measures in unanticipated ways, causing secondary effects. This paper presents an enterprise modeling framework for studying the problem. This framework consists of five interacting elements – the exogenous environment, policy, enterprise actors, supply chain flows, and system/constituent behavior and performance. A prototype agent-based simulation model implementing this framework is also presented. The goal is to use such models to determine effective anti-counterfeiting policies.

Anti-Counterfeit, Advanced Microelectronics Packaging Solutions for Miniaturized Medical Devices

The medical industry is clearly and urgently in need of development of advanced packaging that can meet the growing demand for miniaturization, high-speed performance, and flexibility for handheld, portable, in vivo, and implantable devices. To accomplish this, new packaging structures need to be able to integrate more dies with greater function, higher I/O counts, smaller die pad pitches, and high reliability, while being pushed into smaller and smaller footprints. As a result, the microelectronics industry is moving toward alternative, innovative approaches as solutions for squeezing more function into smaller packages. This paper discusses the development of advanced packaging that can meet the growing demand for miniaturization, high-speed performance, and flexibility for miniaturized electronic devices. In particular, recent developments in high density interconnect (HDI) substrate technology are highlighted. System-in-Package (SiP), embedded passives, stacked packages, and flex substrates are utilized to achieve significant reduction in size, weight, and power (SWaP) consumption in electronic devices. The paper also describes a novel approach for the fabrication of silicone-coated flexible substrates to provide biocompatibility for implantable devices. In particular, we highlight recent developments on silicone coatings on high density, miniaturized polyimide-based flexible electronics. A variety of high density circuits ranging from 11 microns lines/space to 25 microns lines/spaces were processed on polyimide flex substrates and subsequently coated with biocompatible silicone coatings. The electrical performance of silicone coated batteries was characterized by voltage measurements. The final structure enhances the stretching capability. Fabrication of advanced medical substrates incorporating technologies for parts authentication (anticounterfeit measures) such as embedded signature circuits and use of nano or micro materials as signatures are discussed. In some instances, these measures do not add cost to package fabrication.

Recent trends and future of pharmaceutical packaging technology

The pharmaceutical packaging market is constantly advancing and has experienced annual growth of at least five percent per annum in the past few years. The market is now reckoned to be worth over $20 billion a year. As with most other packaged goods, pharmaceuticals need reliable and speedy packaging solutions that deliver a combination of product protection, quality, tamper evidence, patient comfort and security needs. Constant innovations in the pharmaceuticals themselves such as, blow fill seal (BFS) vials, anti-counterfeit measures, plasma impulse chemical vapor deposition (PICVD) coating technology, snap off ampoules, unit dose vials, two-in-one prefilled vial design, prefilled syringes and child-resistant packs have a direct impact on the packaging. The review details several of the recent pharmaceutical packaging trends that are impacting packaging industry, and offers some predictions for the future.

Time running out for testing anti-counterfeit measures

Time running out for testing anti-counterfeit measures

Nanocrystalline cellulose for covert optical encryption

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) solid films derived from spruce pulp exhibit iridescence when cast from chiral nematic aqueous phase suspensions of the nanocrystals. The iridescence has potential for overt encryption as an anti-counterfeiting measure and also offers an intrinsic level of covert encryption since films of NCC reflect left-circularly polarized light. Addition of TINOPAL, an optical brightening agent (OBA), adds a third level of (covert) encryption potential since the chromophore exhibits strong fluorescence when excited with ultraviolet (UV) light. The overall result is a selectively polarizing fluorescent iridescent film. We examined the impact of additions of OBA on NCC iridescence, optical activity, and physical structure variation with polarized optical microscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectropolarimetry, and zeta potential analysis. Increasing OBA additions increase the chiral nematic pitch of NCC films and alter chiral nematic domain structure in the solid film. Under low-concentration conditions, OBA yields intense UV fluorescence without compromising the visible light iridescent properties of the film. The potential security offered by the NCC film can be authenticated using a UV light source, a circular polarizer in conjunction with an iridescent feature that can be verified by the eye or by chiral spectrometry.

Perceptions and practices of pharmaceutical wholesalers surrounding counterfeit medicines in a developing country: a baseline survey.

BackgroundRecent investigations by the Ministry of Health of Cambodia suggest that counterfeit medicines have been introduced into the pharmaceutical market in tampered packaging. To further explore this possibility, an interview survey was conducted at the wholesaler level to investigate the medicinal supply chain in Cambodia.MethodsManaging executives of 62 (83.8%) registered wholesalers of modern medicines in Cambodia were interviewed in 2009 on their knowledge of, perception on, and practices related to counterfeiting issues through a semi-structured questionnaire.ResultsAccording to our findings, 12.9% of the wholesalers had encountered counterfeit medicine. However, they demonstrated a variety of perceptions regarding this issue. A majority (59.7%) defined counterfeit medicines as medicines without registration, while other definitions included medicines that were fraudulently manufactured, medicines without a batch/lot number, those containing harmful ingredients or a reduced amount of active ingredients, and expired medicines. Additionally, 8.1% responded that they did not know what counterfeit medicines were.During procurement, 66.1% of the wholesalers consider whether the product is registered in Cambodia, while 64.5% consider the credibility and quality of the products and 61.3% consider the reputation of the manufacturers. When receiving a consignment, 80.6% of wholesalers check the intactness of medicines, 72.6% check the specification and amount of medicines, 71% check Cambodian registration, 56.5% check that the packaging is intact, 54.8% check batch and lot numbers, 48.4% check the dates of manufacture and expiration, and 9.7% check analytical certificates.Out of 62 wholesalers, 14.5% had received medicines that arrived without packages or were separated from their packaging and had to be repacked before distribution. Significant statistical association was found between wholesalers who received medicines separately from their packs/containers and who consider their belief on reliability of pharmaceutical products of certain manufacturing country during procurement (Chi-square: 12.951, P = 0.002). When wholesalers divide medicines from larger packs into smaller ones, 54.8% use packaging purchased from local markets.ConclusionA number of wholesalers think counterfeit medicines are medicines without registration, and/or do not have any uniform ideas on the issue and what to do, when they find or suspect counterfeits. Furthermore, their strict adherence to anti-counterfeiting measures is urgently needed.

Anticounterfeit Protection of Pharmaceutical Products with Spatial Mapping of X-ray-Detectable Barcodes and Logos

Counterfeit pharmaceutical products are a global threat to public health, and they undermine the credibility and the financial success of the producers of genuine products. The escalating circulation of counterfeit drugs demands new anticounterfeit measures that permit rapid screening, are nondestructive, and cannot be circumvented easily. Herein we describe a micro-X-ray diffraction (μ-XRD) protocol for this purpose capable of reading barcodes and logos fabricated on various substrates using soft-lithography stamping of compounds that can be read by X-ray diffraction but are invisible to the naked eye or optical microscopy. This method is demonstrated with barcodes and logos of compounds, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, printed on flat substrates as well as commercial aspirin and ibuprofen tablets. The μ-XRD protocol is nondestructive, automated, and user-friendly and can be used to certify the authenticity of drug tablets by mapping hidden patterns printed under the tablet coating and on packages.

Encoding isotopic watermarks in molecular electronic materials as an anti-counterfeiting strategy: Application to porphyrins for information storage

An approach for information storage employs tetrapyrrole macrocycles as charge-storage elements attached to a (semi)conductor in hybrid chips. Anti-counterfeiting measures must cohere with the tiny amounts of such electroactive material and strict constraints on composition in chips; accordingly, the incorporation of typical anti-counterfeiting taggants or microcarriers is precluded. The provenance of the tetrapyrroles can be established through the use of isotopic substitution integral to the macrocycle. The isotopic substitution can be achieved by rational site-specific incorporation or by combinatorial procedures. The formation of a mixture of such macrocycles with various isotopic composition (isotopically unmodified, isotopologues, isotopomers) provides the molecular equivalent of an indelible printed watermark. Resonance Raman spectroscopic examination can reveal the watermark, but not the underlying molecular and isotopic composition; imaging mass spectrometry can reveal the presence of isotopologues but cannot discriminate among isotopomers. Hence, deciphering the code that encrypts the watermark in an attempt at forgery is expected to be prohibitive. A brief overview is provided of strategies for incorporating isotopes in meso-substituted tetrapyrrole macrocycles.

Rethinking the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement Copyright Criminal Enforcement Measures

Rethinking the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement Copyright Criminal Enforcement Measures

An ounce of prevention: Dealing with the threat of counterfeit pharmaceuticals

Unlike counterfeit handbags, watches, or movies that one can buy from a street vendor, counterfeit pharmaceuticals present a real and imminent public health risk. How to prevent counterfeit pharmaceuticals from entering the consumer supply chain has challenged the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulators since the late 1980s. FDA has not yet successfully implemented final regulatory safeguards in this arena, leading some drug manufacturers to delay implementation of anti-counterfeiting measures. Drug manufacturers are taking a considerable risk, however, by waiting for FDA to overcomethe complexities of broad-based regulation. First, when FDA issues final regulations, manufacturers must be ready to comply. Second, and more important, companies need safeguards against counterfeits in order to protect their businesses from profit loss, serious erosion of consumer confidence, and possible legal exposure. As regulators and courts delay, company exposure to each of these threats increases. Prudent manufacturers should make anti-counterfeit measures a current priority to prevent threats to their business from materializing into potentially irreparable harms. This article outlines the regulatory landscape, identifies threats that counterfeit pharmaceuticals pose to the industry, and highlights proactive steps that drug manufacturers can, and should, take to protect themselves.

Advanced Anti-counterfeiting Measures by Using Holograms (Security Hologram)

Advanced Anti-counterfeiting Measures by Using Holograms (Security Hologram)

Pharmaceutical counterfeiting

Pharmaceutical counterfeiting is becoming a serious problem both in developed and developing countries. This paper considers the extent of the problem and provides several examples of drugs which have been counterfeited. Additionally, the effects of counterfeit products on consumers, health care providers, drug manufacturers and governments are discussed. Several of the currently used methods of detection are described and these include near-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, isotopic characterization, tensiography, chromatographic and mass spectrometric approaches. Finally, anti-counterfeiting measures such as the use of holograms, tracers and taggants and electronic tracking are summarized.