Anti-counterfeit awareness | Genuine supplies

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What are counterfeit cartridges?

Counterfeit cartridges are unauthorised copies of Brother ink and toner, unlawfully using the Brother trademark. Beyond violating intellectual property rights, these fakes bypass crucial health, safety, and environmental standards - posing risks to users, printers, and the planet.

Where are counterfeit cartridges sold?
Counterfeit cartridges can be found anywhere - from online marketplaces and auction sites to physical retail stores and unauthorized resellers. Some mimic official branding to deceive buyers, while others appear in search results offering suspiciously low prices.

Vigilance is key - always buy from trusted sources and verify authenticity before purchasing.

Buy Brother Originals

It is estimated that counterfeit cartridges cost the industry over $3 billion each year - damaging businesses, driving up costs, and funding illegal trade.

Source: isc-inc.org

Why we need to act against counterfeit cartridges

Counterfeit cartridges pose serious risks to you, your printer, and the planet. They:

Can contain toxic, unregulated substances that can expose users to harmful fumes, and potential damage.
Often fuel criminal networks, unethical labor practices, and fraudulent activities that undermine legitimate businesses.
Contribute to excessive landfill waste, increasing pollution and environmental damage.
Can leak, break, and damage printers, posing safety concerns and leading to downtime, expensive repairs, and reduced productivity.
Are made of inferior materials that can lead to smudged prints, faded ink, and unreliable results.

Check if your Brother supplies are original

Authentificate now

Suspect your Brother cartridge might be fake?

Follow these steps to verify authenticity and report concerns:

Step 1: Check the packaging

Look for poor print quality, spelling mistakes or unusual design elements.

Original Brother boxes are always of high quality.

Step 2: Find the hologram

Brother Original cartridges feature a security hologram label.

Step 3: Verify online

Visit go.brother/id or your local Brother authentication site to confirm authenticity using the security code.

Step 4: Report counterfeits

If something feels off, contact Brother to report suspected fakes.
Our team will investigate and help ensure you're protected.

Always: Buy smart

Always purchase from trusted, authorised suppliers to guarantee genuine Brother products.

Act against counterfeits
Check the packaging
Find the hologram
Verify online
Report counterfeits
Buy smart

How does Brother protect its customers from counterfeit cartridges?

At Brother, we take counterfeiting very seriously. To protect our brand and our customers, we work closely with our partners and are committed to detecting counterfeits both on and offline. The figures below show the action we have taken against counterfeit suppliers to protect our customers.

Source: Corsearch Brand Protection Report for Europe, September 2018 - July 2023.

Disruption & legal enforcement

Removing fakes from 30+ online marketplaces and taking action against counterfeit producers and sellers.

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Training & advocacy

Working with law enforcement, customs, and industry groups to secure the supply chain.

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Customer support

Offering tools to help identify and report fake cartridges.

Choose Original. Return with Confidence.

When you use Brother Original cartridges, you get the quality you expect – plus access to our free cartridge return and recycling service.

Send your used cartridges back to us at no cost, and we’ll ensure they’re recycled or remanufactured responsibly – keeping them out of landfill and putting materials back to good use.

This is a service we offer exclusively with Brother Original Supplies.

Original quality. Backed by Brother.

Recycle for free

More ways to ensure your ink and toner cartridges are Brother Original

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Choose trusted sources to purchase original Brother supplies. Easily search for original inks, toners, tapes, and labels that match your Brother products - all in one place.

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