What are counterfeit print cartridges and why should I care?
What is a counterfeit print cartridge?
Counterfeit print cartridges 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, which they are not. To help protect its valued partners and clients, HP runs a worldwide Anti-counterfeiting Programme.
Click here to see a movie about the potential risks for users of counterfeit print cartridges.
Why should I care?
Although counterfeit print cartridges may look like genuine HP print cartridges, they don’t provide you with the high print quality, proven reliability, and consistent yields you have come to expect from HP products.
The potential risks of using counterfeit print cartridges include poor quality print-outs, reduced page yields, print cartridges which fail prematurely or do not work at all, printer damage which may require repair, interruption of printing infrastructure and workflow, as well as potential invalidation of hardware warranties. Poor or inconsistent print quality is a primary indicator of non-original products.
Typical material seized in an anti-counterfeit raid by authorities
How is HP protecting its customers?
In addition to providing our customers with information and tools to assist them in properly identifying genuine cartridges versus counterfeit cartridges, HP also investigates suspected counterfeit activities and then partners with law enforcement and customs officials around the world who then perform seizures and make arrests. The resulting penalties and sentencing of criminals are then administered through local criminal justice systems.
In the last four years, the Programme has overseen the following in Europe, the Middle East and Africa:
- Around 1,000 investigations
- About 500 enforcement actions (raids and seizures by authorities)
- Around 9 million seized finished counterfeits and components intended for illegal re-use
- Over 3,000 Channel Partner Anti-counterfeit Audits
Warehouses containing counterfeit printing supplies
