HP SEIZED 815,000 COUNTERFEIT CTGS IN MIDDLE EAST IN 2008

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http://www.itp.net/news/552814-hp-fights-middle-east-cartridge-counterfeiters-
HP fights Middle East cartridge counterfeiters
HP has called on the channel to remain alert to the threat of counterfeit consumables in the market after revealing that enforcement actions in Bahrain, Yemen and Saudi Arabia have yielded more than 115,000 fake ink cartridges over the last few months.The production and resale of counterfeit cartridges and components remains a major issue for printing vendors in the Middle East and results in millions of dollars of lost revenue for authorised channel partners.

HP seized in excess of 700,000 illegitimate cartridges from the Middle East last year and a further 90,000 fake boxes and packaging materials.In a visit to the region this week, Tina Rose, EMEA anti-counterfeit programme manager for supplies aftermarket sales at HP, admitted that print cartridge counterfeiting was “especially rampant” in the Middle East and urged partners to remain vigilant.“Particularly now when times are a bit tougher than they were a year ago, which affects their businesses, if partners hear about it or see evidence of [counterfeiting] themselves they need to contact us by the various methods available or contact the HP IPG people here, who can then contact us,” she explained.

Over the past year, HP has carried out almost 70 unannounced audits of partner showrooms and warehouses, discovering counterfeit items during seven of those. It has also conducted 73 investigations in the Middle East and worked with local authorities to launch raids on illegal counterfeit logistics operations.

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April 17, 2009 at 12:04 PM