Counterfeit print cartridges are predominantly refilled or remanufactured print cartridges packed in unauthorised or fake reproductions of HP packaging. They are meant to mislead the consumer into believing that they are genuine HP products, which they are not.

Click here to see a movie about the potential risks for users of counterfeit print cartridges.

Although counterfeit print cartridges may look like genuine HP print cartridges, they don’t provide you with the high print quality, proven reliability, and consistent yields you have come to expect from HP products.

The potential risks of using counterfeit print cartridges include poor quality print-outs, reduced page yields, print cartridges which fail prematurely or do not work at all, printer damage which may require repair, interruption of printing infrastructure and workflow, as well as potential invalidation of hardware warranties. Poor or inconsistent print quality is a primary indicator of non-original products.

Typical material seized in an anti-counterfeit raid by authorities.

In addition to providing our customers with information and tools to assist them in properly identifying genuine cartridges versus counterfeit cartridges, HP also investigates suspected counterfeit activities and then partners with law enforcement and customs officials around the world who then perform seizures and make arrests. The resulting penalties and sentencing of criminals are then administered through local criminal justice systems.

Globally, over the last 4 years, HP conducted 4,723 investigations in 88 countries resulting in 3,733 enforcement actions (raids and seizures by authorities) seizing over 47.23 million units of counterfeit products and components. (Investigations and actions have occurred on every continent except Antarctica.)

Warehouse containing counterfeit print cartridges in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.