Sennheiser China announces major push against counterfeiting
Published: ASIA
CHINA: Sennheiser China is mounting a wave of action against counterfeit products including a new identification technology and increased cooperation with Guangzhou Customs. The anti-piracy measures were announced on August 21st at a press conference in Guangzhou, during which endorsee Hins Cheung appeared onstage to pledge his support.
Named the Sennheiser Anti-Counterfeit Press Conference, the event took place at Westin Hotels & Resorts Guangzhou, with over 100 media representatives in attendance. Also present was Volker Bartels, president of corporate services and spokesperson for Sennheiser’s Executive Management Board, who spoke against piracy and its effects, declaring: ‘Sennheiser will not tolerate cheating the customers and damaging our reputation.’
The manufacturer also outlined its anti-piracy activities, including working with Chinese authorities to raid factories undertaking counterfeit production, strict surveillance of trading platforms, and helping to educate customs authorities. In 2011, Guangzhou Customs seized 500 pairs of counterfeit Sennheiser earphones which were being couriered overseas. Based on the prices of genuine Sennheiser products, the value of the seized goods amounted to approximately RMB1,000,000.
The new identification technology, effective immediately, comprises an authenticity label named the tesa PrioSpot which will be included on both the product and the packaging. According to the manufacturer the label offers ‘an incomparable level of protection by using visible and hidden security features’. Thanks to the label, consumers, retailers and also customs agents will be able to check the authenticity of a product via the internet ‘within seconds’, either in-store or even before purchase. The first products bearing the label are expected to arrive in stores at the end of the year.
Following the introduction of the label, Sennheiser president of Greater China Marc Vincent declared: ‘Sennheiser is determined, will invest and will not give up the fight until we feel we have a clean and safe market place’.
Hins Cheung also added his voice to the cause. ‘It’s very easy and convenient to scan the security label’s QR code using a smartphone or tablet PC to enter www.qr-sennheiser.com,’ he explained. ‘Customers or even related parties such as Customs could verify a genuine Sennheiser product within a few seconds.’