News

The IPR Center Report

Partners in Action

Volume 1: No. 1 • November 2008

UL Holographic Label Aims to Protect Consumers

As part of its century-long public safety mission, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), with its partners, is dedicated to combating counterfeiting and the criminals who manufacture counterfeit products. UL takes a zero-tolerance approach and works with law enforcement around the world to prevent products bearing a counterfeit UL mark from entering the stream of commerce. The UL policy against counterfeiters and counterfeit goods does not tolerate the import, export, or manipulation of merchandise bearing a counterfeit UL mark.

UL actively works with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to prevent counterfeit products from entering the U.S. market. Since 1995, there have been more than 1,500 seizures of counterfeit products at ports of entry in the United States.

In addition to CBP and ICE, UL works with a number of international crime prevention organizations and industry associations, including INTERPOL, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (CACN), the International Trademark Association, and the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition.

UL is working in partnership with INTERPOL and the RCMP to host the 2008 International Law Enforcement IP Crime Conference that will bring together an unprecedented consortium of law enforcement and intellectual property crime experts to discuss the threat of increased counterfeiting, share best practices, and develop new strategies and partnerships to more effectively combat IP crime.

In a separate effort with the RCMP and the Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network, UL recently participated in the CACN Canadian Reality Tour, a cross-Canada educational initiative to raise awareness and combat product counterfeiting and copyright piracy.

UL is continually working to stay ahead of counterfeiters and as part of that commitment, is introducing a new holographic label that will be required in 32 common consumer product areas prone to counterfeiting, including power supply cords, nightlights and ceiling fans.

The holographic label minimizes counterfeit UL marks because it incorporates cutting-edge technology, elevated security features, and a unique hologram design, making it easy to identify and validate, yet very difficult to replicate. Distinct features of the new hologram label include:

• Gold background to help ICE, CBP, and other law enforcement agencies, distributors, retailers and consumers quickly identify the new label.
• Repeating pattern of floating UL symbols, a burst pattern around one of the floating UL symbols, detailed micro-printing and wavy lines.
• Color shifting ink similar to that in the new U.S. paper currency.
• Additional covert security features to assist with the authentication of a UL holographic label.

Additionally, UL has added another level of security via the UL Authenticator, a special credit card-size device that authorities can use to better identify counterfeit products. The new holographic label was made available this summer.

If you suspect a product may have a counterfeit UL Mark, contact UL immediately by e-mailing anticounterfeiting@us.ul.com or calling 877-ULHELPS (854-3577). For additional tips on how to identify a counterfeit label, visit www.ul.com/ace/fake.html.

Red Flags for Counterfeits

• The purchase is not from a reputable vendor or retailer.
• A vendor or retailer is selling the item significantly cheaper than most retailers.
• The vendor or retailer does not have a legitimate storefront.
• The manufacturing quality is poor.
• The commodity is being sold by an unauthorized vendor or retailer.
• The label appears to have been tampered with or is non-existent.

The Golden Rule for Identifying Counterfeit Products: If the price is too good to be true…it probably is.