Security at its Best

He explains that companies are using both covert and overt methods to ensure the consumer is getting their money's worth. "Brand owners lose millions of dollars each year to the sale of 'knock-offs,' which they can then be liable for. This becomes an issue, for instance, where warranties are involved." Another potential problem for brand owners is that products are being diverted from an authorized supply chain and sold into a market they were not intended for. Walle's example: Pharmaceuticals not making it to your local drug store and being sold on the black market; or those manufactured specifically for one country but sold in another. "The use of an ID taggant on the package can trace where that product originated, which, in turn, can help eliminate the problem for the brand owner."