Per the US Patent and Trademark Office, “counterfeiting is the largest criminal enterprise in the world, with domestic and international sales of counterfeit and pirated goods totaling between an estimated $1.7 trillion and $4.5 trillion a year—a higher amount than either drugs or human trafficking.” The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has stated that over 2.5% of global commerce is in counterfeit goods.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, scores of counterfeit Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and test kits descended on the market. These counterfeits posed significant risks to both practitioners and patients. If counterfeiters are eager to profit from a pandemic, what won’t they look to take advantage of?

Adding a digital layer of product protection would help the entire supply chain verify that authentic products are getting to market. What if your current packaging, with an existing QR or POS barcode, could be used for product authentication? Product authenticity is not only for Brand protection but, more importantly, for protecting consumers. A trusted digital layer of authenticity detection can be crucial for a safe and secure supply chain. This session will explore digital fingerprinting and its practical global applications today.