ELECTRONICS company GEC-Marconi of Stanmore, Middlesex, has filed a string of four British patent applications, (2 286 044/672/673/674) on a biological system designed to foil counterfeiters. The patents could trigger a legal dispute with US artists, including animator Joe Barbera, who have been using a similar system to sign genuine original works (Technology, 1 April 1995).
GEC-Marconi’s applications lay claim to the idea of protecting products and artwork against counterfeiters by using biological, rather than chemical markers.
Inorganic chemicals do not make reliable markers because large amounts have to be applied to allow analysis by laboratory techniques such as chromotography. This obviously gives counterfeiters a chance to analyse and identify the marker so they can copy it.
GEC-Marconi suggests using natural markers, such as DNA or RNA, animal antibodies, serum proteins or vitamins, or natural enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase or horseradish peroxidase.
Doctors have already developed the tests needed to pick up very small quantities of these materials, for instance by adding agents that make them fluoresce under UV light. The compound can be present at concentrations of just a few micrograms per litre.
The key to success, says GEC Marconi, is to keep the nature of the added material secret. Laboratory staff need only know which test to conduct.
GEC-Marconi’s patents were filed in December 1993. If the US artists can prove they were signing with DNA before that date, they can challenge the patents. If they started later, GEC-Marconi may be able to claim royalties.