HP finds answer to fake cartridge problem in AP

This is HP's promise to its customers after 14 months of research and development (R&D) on tamper-proof cartridge boxes.

Security features incorporated into the cartridge boxes include perforation seals and security labels that use "high-tech" colour shifting ink. The latter is said to be similar to that used by the US Treasury on its US$10 and US$20 notes.

"It is hard for people to copy the security label," said HP Asia Pacific supplies business manager for Consumer Business Organization Veronique Malan.

According to her, the newly packed cartridges were shipped in volume across Asia Pacific on May 1. However, she assured that no extra costs will be incurred by customers.

Malan could not reveal HP's investment in the revamp, but noted that the project "will affect our bottom line positively" as the company re-captures market share from the counterfeiters.

She was referring to the growing number of customer complaints that "fake" cartridges were being placed in tampered HP packaging.

Last November, the Philippines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided several companies, seizing "large quantities" of counterfeit toner cartridges following a tip-off from HP.

In Singapore, the last raid was conducted in 1997, when over 20 counterfeit HP ink cartridges were seized from PK Computers at Funan Center, according to HP.

Malan declined to reveal losses incurred due to such fraud, but noted that illegal sales tend to be prevalent in "bigger" countries such as China, Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

In addition to the security features, the packaging will also be more "consumer-friendly", Malan claimed. Among others, HP's lengthy product codes will now be replaced by clearly marked two-digit numbers and prominently displayed color or black ink labels.