Counterfeit products are a staggering issue in the United States. According to Buy Safe America, it’s estimated that 21 types of products account for 60% of all the contraband goods that enter the United States. These illegitimate imports cost domestic retailers nearly $54.1 billion in sales. Counterfeit goods impact a variety of industries, while affecting both consumers and the economy. Beyond the economic toll, fake and mislabeled products—car parts, electronics, toys, and more—pose safety risks to consumers worldwide.
What Is A Digital Watermark?
A digital watermark, which can be applied via laser marking, embeds information within physical or digital assets like products and packaging or images, audio, video, and documents. This embedded information typically includes a unique identifier that conveys details about the asset's origin, authenticity, and copyright status. Digital watermarks are designed to be seamlessly integrated into the content, making them difficult to remove or separate from the original asset. For consumers, customs agents, and brand inspectors, it is a powerful way to detect counterfeit materials and to verify product authenticity.
The Power Of Digital Lasers
Lasers can penetrate any surface, including plastic, steel, paper, and cardboard. Each type of laser-etched binary digital watermark can be read with the Digimarc Discover app, as well as with any Digimarc-enabled scanner. (It reads both red and white light scanners.)
Advantages Of Laser-Etched Digital Watermarks
- Versatility: Unlike traditional barcodes or QR codes, which are limited in shape and size, laser etching allows for intricate designs that can be integrated seamlessly into product aesthetics. This flexibility enables brands to maintain their visual identity while enhancing security.
- No Consumables Required: Laser etching eliminates the need for consumables like ink, reducing ongoing costs and maintenance.
- Durability in Harsh Environments: Laser etchings are resilient, capable of withstanding extreme conditions, and can be read even through protective coatings in the final manufacturing process.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Laser etching does not require consumables like ink, reducing operational costs. Additionally, the ability to etch directly onto products eliminates the need for separate labeling processes, streamlining production.
- Real-Time Tracking: Laser-etched digital watermarks can facilitate real-time tracking and verification of products through supply chains. This transparency not only helps in managing inventory but also allows consumers to verify authenticity, enhancing their confidence in the product.
- Consumer Awareness: As consumers become more aware of counterfeit products, the ability to verify authenticity through laser-etched watermarks empowers them to make informed purchasing decisions, thereby fostering loyalty to trustworthy brands.
Laser ISSE is a founding member of Digimarc's Center of Expertise (CoE) program, where we cooperate to provide technological solutions for issues such as counterfeits and misinformation, plastics recycling, error-prone manufacturing, supply chain efficiency and in-store checkout, and the need for a seamless customer experience across physical and digital domains.