Applied DNA Sciences, Inc reports that its SigNature DNA will be used as forensic marks of authenticity to protect elite, museum, quality musical instruments.
APDN, a provider of DNA-based anti-counterfeiting technology and product authentication solutions, has received an initial order for its SigNature DNA anti-counterfeiting taggants to be embedded in musical instruments produced by an elite manufacturer. Marking instruments with botanical DNA taggants offers protection against counterfeits.
"The values of craftsmanship, trust and integrity are universal to all brands worldwide. Our customers are resolute in our commitment to ensure that products that bear the forensic mark are 100% authentic. When rapid screens in the stores are combined with forensic audits, you change the conditions for counterfeiters, and you take back control of your supply chain. The cleaner the supply chain, the less likely there will be diversion and counterfeiting," said Dr James Hayward, President and CEO of APDN.
Counterfeiting is problematic in the musical instruments industry with the escalating problem originating mainly in China. China regularly defends its record in fighting piracy and counterfeit production of merchandise. However, rogue manufacturers continue to sell pirated consumer goods in many Chinese cities with impunity. Manufacturers of consumer goods in every industry feel the impact in declining sales and revenues.
Label forgery has become so rampant that it is difficult for most ordinary people, and even some experts, to tell authentic from fake. For example, some pirates photocopy images of actual violin labels from old reference books, usually those of rare and obscure makers. They then stain the paper with black tea and glue the counterfeit labels into cheap violins hoping to pass them off as much more valuable products.
"As the director of one of the leading performing arts center’s in the country and one who presents and produces over 200 annual concerts a year, I have a lot of interaction with musicians, and they often talk about the great expense of their instruments. Obviously, the artist’s instrument is an integral part of the creative process and performance and insuring that instruments are authentic by using DNA makes great sense," said Alan Inkles, Director, Staller Center for the Arts.
From natural sources, botanical DNA taggants provide musical instrument brands assurance for original musical components and associated packaging. The value of protecting the original parts stems from the need to know where the source of diversion or counterfeiting is occurring. In most fraud cases, it is not clear to the brand owner where the problem resides. DNA helps the brand owner to "root out" the problem.
"When customers have real counterfeiting and diversion issues, they come to us. They know that the counterfeiters will not be able to figure out what, where, how and when we placed the forensic mark. It’s not a question of if you will get caught…with the help of DNA, you will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said Dr. Hayward.
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