Q:	What constitutes a counterfeit cartridge?

A:	A counterfeit product is a product which has been made to look identical to or substantially indistinguishable from the genuine or original product, usually for the purpose of deceiving consumers. Counterfeiters unlawfully exploit the intellectual property and trademark rights of others and benefit illegally from the intellectual property owners' investments and labor.

	Consumers purchase what they often assume to be a legitimate, genuine HP product, and later find out that the cartridge did not perform at the level expected from a genuine HP cartridge and then realize that it is counterfeit.

Q:	How might customers realize that they are using a counterfeit HP cartridge?

A:	Original HP printing supplies are always delivered new – never refilled or remanufactured – and come in unopened packaging. The following indicators might point to counterfeit products:
	•	The security label on the packaging is not present or does not function as described by HP.
	•	The print quality is poor and/or inconsistent.
	•	Printing supplies are delivered in packaging that appears to have been tampered with or the packaging is of poor quality.
	•	Print cartridges are covered with toner dust or ink, they leak inside the printer, or pull tabs are different to those found on genuine HP products.
	•	The cartridge fails.

Q:	What is the difference between a counterfeit and a remanufactured or refilled print cartridge?

A:	Counterfeit print cartridges for HP printing systems are predominantly refilled or remanufactured print cartridges packed in unauthorised or fake reproductions of HP packaging. They are meant to mislead the consumer into believing that they are genuine HP products.

	This means that refilled or remanufactured products are not counterfeit or otherwise fraudulent, if they are sold or offered in such a way that does not confuse or potentially confuse customers into believing they are brand new genuine HP products.

Q:	How does HP combat counterfeit activity?

A:	HP is serious about protecting its intellectual property, its trademark and its brand through intelligence and investigations that span borders to disrupt the international trade of illicit products.

	To monitor the activity of suspected counterfeiters and help track ACF activity around the world, HP relies on its counterfeit intelligence group, an internal team with investigators on all six major continents.

	Once suspected counterfeiters have been identified by HP's counterfeit intelligence group and strategy experts, HP then partners with local law enforcement agencies and customs officials around the world to perform seizures and make arrests. The resulting penalties and sentencing of criminals is managed by local criminal justice systems.

	HP also is a member of the Imaging Supplies Coalition for International Intellectual Property Protection (ISC), a non-profit association of consumable imaging supplies Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), designed to protect customers and combat illegal activities in the imaging supplies industry.

Q:	Why is HP so aggressive in its ACF efforts?

A:	HP makes significant investments in imaging and printing research and development. Specifically, up to 100 chemists work on HP ink formulations, and it can take many years to develop a single formulation to provide HP customers with the superior quality and reliability they expect from HP.

	To protect this investment, along with HP customers, partners and shareholders around the world, HP vigorously defends its intellectual property, trademark and brand for aftermarket supplies by engaging in industry-leading anti-counterfeiting practices to combat the fraudulent sale of counterfeit HP supplies products.

Q:	Aside from affecting HP's bottom line, who is really affected by the sale of counterfeit cartridges?

A:	The sale of counterfeit HP products affects more than HP's aftermarket supplies business. It also affects:
	•	Customers by offering lower print quality, lower overall value and questionable ink ingredients.
	•	HP retailers/partners by contributing to lower sales in the channel and diminishing HP brand equity in those outlets. Before an original HP print cartridge reaches the end user, it generally passes through the HP reseller channel. As with consumers, HP partners can also become victims of counterfeit cartridges.
	•	Shareholders by impacting lower returns and diminishing HP brand equity.

	A broader group of individuals involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit products may also be affected as organized crime, terrorism, unlawful labor conditions and child labor are often associated with counterfeiting.

	HP strives to protect all individuals that may be adversely impacted by counterfeiting and continues to refine its successful ACF efforts to remove counterfeit products from the market and bring criminals to justice who engage in the illicit sale of counterfeit HP supplies.

Q:	Which original HP products carry a security label?

A:	All original monochrome HP LaserJet and HP Color LaserJet print cartridge boxes carry an HP security label in every country in the world, but not every inkjet print cartridge carries a security label. In fact, most boxes of original HP inkjet print cartridges do not carry an HP security label in the United States and Canada.

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