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Counterfeit products have been identified in Australia and New Zealand. Although the percentage of actual products within Australia and New Zealand is low, Canon has made a number of seizures of products that falsely bear the Canon logo. These goods include the toners for copying machines, cartridges for facsimile and laser printers, ink cartridges for ink-jet printers, cameras, batteries, binoculars and camcorders. Canon is concerned about protecting the rights and safety of the consumer. Fake goods may sometimes seem like a bargain but there are always hidden dangers for consumers. The person who sells you a fake will not be around to help if it does not work properly. Only the genuine article can offer a good deal. What are counterfeit products? Is it dangerous to use counterfeit products? Is counterfeiting a criminal offence? Why is counterfeiting a criminal offence? Is it difficult to identify counterfeit Canon products? What do I do if I think I've purchased a counterfeit Canon product? What are counterfeit products? When we use the term "counterfeit products" we are referring to those products that are fakes or copies of Canon products and are packaged to appear as though they have been manufactured by Canon or with the consent of Canon. Usually the products or packaging of counterfeit products will feature the Canon logo.  Is it dangerous to use counterfeit products? There is always the possibility that your use of a counterfeit product can damage your property or cause personal injury. For example, using a counterfeit toner may cause damage to your copying machine. In addition, counterfeit products may not contain the safety measures and quality standards that a genuine Canon product contains. A counterfeit battery, for example, may overheat or cause a fire. Canon cannot be responsible for any loss or damage caused by counterfeit products. Is counterfeiting a criminal offence? It is a criminal offence to deal in counterfeit goods and an offender can be sentenced to imprisonment or ordered to pay fines. In addition, an offender can be sued for compensation by Canon in legal proceedings. Why is counterfeiting a criminal offence? Most companies invest heavily in protecting their brands and ensuring their products are of the highest quality. The sale of counterfeit products prevents consumers from obtaining the benefit of the brand and the quality associated with the brand. In addition, counterfeit products can be dangerous as they may not contain safety measures that are incorporated within genuine products. In order to protect their brand and the innovation of their products, companies take legal measures such as trademarks. Canon's legal basis for addressing counterfeiting is infringement of Canon's registered trademarks. Canon may also have an action under the Trade Practices Act, as dealing in counterfeit products could be considered misleading and deceptive to consumers. Is it difficult to identify counterfeit Canon products? It is difficult to identify counterfeit products in the market because the packaging for the counterfeit products often looks the same as the packaging for the genuine products. Therefore, consumers are often unable to distinguish between genuine products and counterfeit products. Canon has incorporated special technology measures such as Canon's New Unique Hologram into its packaging, which makes identification of counterfeit packaging easier.  Other indicators of counterfeit include: What do I do if I think I've purchased a counterfeit Canon product? Please contact Canon directly on: Australia - 1800 021 167 New Zealand - 0800 222 666 |
