Law enforcement organizations around the globe are cracking down on printer supply counterfeit operations.

US, EU authorities get serious

In the USA, according to Lexology, the number of seizures has reached the point where it is actually beginning to disrupt the supply channel. Confiscations of contraband have reached record levels at virtually every port of entry.

American customs authorities advise office supply importers to pay careful attention to their suppliers’ trademarks, and to take careful measures to protect themselves.

As we have reported earlier, EU Customs have also reported doubling the number of seized items, with 80,000 counterfeit shipments seized at EU borders in 2010. Office products such as print supplies were noted to be the third most counterfeited item.

HP not joking either

Meanwhile, HP in particular has been working closely with governments in Africa and the Middle East to cut down on intellectual property theft. All have significantly stepped up their work against importers and retailers of counterfeit cartridges in recent years.

Nigeria law enforcement agencies, according to reports, have seized no fewer than 6,500 fake HP printer cartridges in recent, coordinated raids.

Over the last four years, according to the company, HP has assisted in the seizure of nearly nine million pieces of fake printing supplies and components in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.