Counterfeit HP products seized in Pettah

Monday, 8 November 2010 06:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By S.S. Selvanayagam

A team of officers of the Criminal Investigations Department recently uncovered a large stock of counterfeit HP toners and cartridges from several shops in the Pettah vicinity.

This action was initiated on a complaint made by Sudath Perera Associates on behalf of the Hewlett Packard Company, P.O.Box 10301, Mail Stop 20B0, Palo Alto California 94303-0890 U.S.A.

The brand “HP” is globally renowned and is synonymous with computer products and software. In some of the counterfeit samples seized at the raid, there was no hologram. The key differences between the original and the counterfeit HP product is the hologram.

In the original HP ink cartridge, there is a clear and sharp shifting of the hologram from light to dark shade and vice versa. In the counterfeit sample, the hologram is of poor quality and the difference is distinguishable at a glance.

Therefore customers should pay extra caution when purchasing these products, if not they could be tricked into buying the counterfeit product which would be harmful to their computers. Investigations revealed that it is a well organised group which sells these counterfeit “HP” ink cartridges and toners.

The owners of the shops selling counterfeit items were arrested and enlarged on bail. The case is currently fixed for 10 February 2011. Court permitted the CID to keep the seized goods in their custody. The CID is conducting further investigations. The search warrant was issued by Magistrate Rushmin Singappuli of the Magistrate’s Court of Colombo.

The raid was successfully conducted under the supervision of Director CID M.K.D.W. Amarasinghe.

The sale of counterfeit goods is an infringement under the Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003. Under the said act, if a person and/or persons are convicted, a fine up to

Rs. 500,000 and up to six months imprisonment, or both may be imposed.