HP Battling Counterfeit Printer Supplies

Hewlett Packard Co. (HP), has uncovered a record amount of counterfeit printing supplies since its anti-counterfeiting program began.
HP Battling Counterfeit Printer Supplies
Hewlett-Packard Co. made a $1.6 billion bid to acquire 3Par Inc. on Monday. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
12/21/2010
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/101341639.jpg" alt="Packages of HP ink cartridges ares displayed at a Best Buy store in San Francisco, California. Hewlett-Packard Co. Hewlett Packard Co. has uncovered a record amount of counterfeit printing supplies since its anti-counterfeiting program began in 2006.  (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)" title="Packages of HP ink cartridges ares displayed at a Best Buy store in San Francisco, California. Hewlett-Packard Co. Hewlett Packard Co. has uncovered a record amount of counterfeit printing supplies since its anti-counterfeiting program began in 2006.  (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1810681"/></a>
Packages of HP ink cartridges ares displayed at a Best Buy store in San Francisco, California. Hewlett-Packard Co. Hewlett Packard Co. has uncovered a record amount of counterfeit printing supplies since its anti-counterfeiting program began in 2006.  (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Hewlett Packard Co. (HP), the leading printer and computer maker, has uncovered a record amount of counterfeit printing supplies since its anti-counterfeiting program began in 2006, the company said this week.

Surveys and research sponsored by HP demonstrates that almost half of corporate management with purchasing power for their companies had bought counterfeit HP ink and toners.

Furthermore, counterfeiting policies were absent from the workplace and not prioritized to be a concern for management among customers, HP said. However, respondents from Europe and the Middle East predominantly agreed that the production and sale of counterfeit goods were detrimental for society (88 percent) and the use of such products contributed significantly to unemployment and reduced tax revenues (78 percent).

“What is particularly disconcerting about the research findings is that some businesses seem to patronize and sustain the production of counterfeit goods, which even they recognize as having harmful consequences for society,” said Tina Rose, HP Anti-counterfeiting Marketing Program Manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), in a statement. “It is encouraging to note though, that those who avoid counterfeit products, do so knowing that the quality of fakes is often deficient and the best experience comes from original products. We will therefore continue to inform clients throughout the region about the negative consequences that counterfeits can entail.”

Globally, over the last four years, HP has conducted 4,723 investigations in 88 countries resulting in 3,733 enforcement actions (raids and seizures by authorities) confiscating over 47.2 million units of counterfeit products and components. Investigations and actions have occurred on every continent except Antarctica.

According to the Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy, the estimated market for counterfeit merchandise is $750 billion globally. The Imaging Consumables Coalition of Europe, Middle East and Africa indicates that there’s an 8 percent counterfeit rate in the market for printing consumables in EMEA.

Traditionally, printer suppliers sell printers at a low margin and recoup their profits from sales of toners, ink cartridges, and other accessories.