Counterfeiting
Counterfeiting is a global criminal activity that affects many successful consumer product companies in a wide range of industries. Wherever it exists, counterfeiting also damages local economies and negatively affects people with legitimate jobs in the supply chain.

Counterfeiting often results in:

• Sub-standard products which are not subject to quality control
• No warranty protection for consumers
• Potential physical harm to consumers from poorly made or faulty products
• Costs to local economies
• Lost revenues and fewer jobs in legitimate local businesses
• Law enforcement costs
• Lost tax revenues
• Damage to company brand and reputation

Consumers trust the brand they are purchasing and Nokia wants to ensure that people who purchase a Nokia product receive an authentic product that meets consumer expectations as well as the company’s high standards for product quality, performance and safety.

Nokia – Global Brand Protection
Nokia’s global brand protection efforts safeguard the company’s brand of mobile devices and accessories. These continuous efforts protect consumers and Nokia’s business from criminal counterfeiting activity.

Nokia’s brand protection efforts include:

• Deployment of a dedicated global team focused on brand protection and combating counterfeiting
• Maintaining an international network of investigators and lawyers specializing in anti-counterfeiting efforts
• Ongoing collaboration with government agencies, customs officials and law enforcement agencies around the world with the common goal of reducing counterfeit products in the marketplace
• The use of available and appropriate legal remedies against suspected counterfeiters and parties enabling and/or supporting the activity.
• Education programs for distributors, retailers, and partners regarding the prevention and overall awareness to support anti-counterfeiting efforts.
• A zero tolerance policy with distributors and retailers and continuous monitoring for fraudulent activity in order to maintain the integrity of legitimate supply channels
• Consumer education programs designed to build awareness of the risks associated with the purchase of counterfeit products and ways consumers can ensure they’re purchasing authentic products.
• Uniting with other industry leaders to collectively address the problem of counterfeit products on a global level.
• Lobbying for legislation that provides more severe penalties for crimes associated with product counterfeiting

Guidance for Consumers
One of the safest ways to purchase authentic Nokia products is to buy from a reliable retail outlet, one that is a Nokia authorized dealer, and will therefore provide a genuine Nokia warranty. 

• Purchase from a "known reputable dealer" and keep the receipt in case the product malfunctions. It can then be returned to the dealer if it’s suspected to be counterfeit. 
• If a product is purchased from a location other than an authorized dealer then exercise extreme caution when the price is substantially less than being stated by a Nokia authorized distributor. Be aware that the warranty is not valid if the product turns out to be counterfeit. 
• Be extra cautious when purchasing products from online sources ---particularly online auctions--- as it is favourite "venue" for selling counterfeit products.
• Look for abnormalities in packaging and labels as counterfeiter's often repackage fake and refurbished products in order to sell as "new."
• Be wary of unrealistic prices.
• Consumers should trust their instincts and if they have any reservations about the authenticity of the product or packaging purchase elsewhere.

Industry Involvement
Nokia partners with and takes a leadership position in a wide network of organisations to advocate for legislation, regulations, procedures and other enforcement policies to protect the broader industry, including:

• Coalition of Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR)
• International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC)
• International Chamber of Commerce – Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP)
• Quality Brands Protection Committee (QBPC)
• International Trademark Association (INTA)
• European Brands Association
  
  

Media Inquiries
Mark Durrant, Nokia Communications
mark.durrant@nokia.com