EXCLUSIVE: Brother Sends Warning to the Aftermarket

Japanese based Brother Industries, Ltd (Brother)—one of the top 5 printer OEMs in the world—has released a White Paper on the correct messaging to be used in aftermarket chips for remanufactured and manufactured inkjet cartridges.

In order to protect its customers, Brother wants to ensure that messages displayed on the printer accurately identify whether the cartridge installed in the printer is an OEM original or an Aftermarket supply, so as to avoid brand misidentification.

Brother has asked Recycling Times Media (RT Media) to use its various digital and print channels to send a clear message to the Aftermarket industry that they must conform to the regulations as set out in the White Paper.

The White Paper, which is available in both English and Chinese languages, is available on Brother’s website, and is also being distributed through RT Media’s website, social media and magazine to tens of thousands of Aftermarket players in 97 countries. In addition to English and Chinese, news of the White Paper will be broadcast in Spanish, German, French, Russian and Korean languages.

Brother advises manufacturers and suppliers of ink cartridges should ensure Aftermarket cartridges contain chips that are programed to identify the cartridges as “non-Brother supply”. Brother says this will enable chip manufacturers and suppliers of ink cartridges to demonstrate their respect to registered trademarks and that they are not involved in the illegal, harmful trade of counterfeit products.

The White Paper provides a step-by-step set of instructions to help the Aftermarket industry change the programming of the data field to ensure accurate messaging.

In October 2013, HP also launched an industry White Paper on brand misidentification at RT Media’s RemaxWorld Expo & Summit in Zhuhai China and appeared on the cover of the Recycling Times Magazine with a similar warning about the use of Aftermarket chips in printer cartridges intended for HP printers. The consultative process was helpful and the Aftermarket reacted favorably to HP’s request.

Brother has also said there will be further updates to their White Paper and the Aftermarket should remain diligent in conforming to the standards.

The White Paper, which is available in both English and Chinese languages, is available on Brother’s website, and is

English: http://update.brother.co.jp/pbj/pdf/en/Brother_White_Paper_Genuine_Authentication_Inkjet_EN.pdf

Chinese: http://update.brother.co.jp/pbj/pdf/cn/Brother_White_Paper_Genuine_Authentication_Inkjet_CN.pdf

Aftermarket manufacturers of alternative chip solutions, can also contact Brother directly at genuine-authentication-contact@brother.co.jp.