UK-based chip company Pragmatic Semiconductor has announced the launch of its latest radio frequency identification (RFID) near-field communication (NFC) product line, Pragmatic NFC Connect.

Europol’s EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU- SOCTA) 20251, published in March, reveals how the very DNA of crime is shifting – adapting to a world shaped by global instability, digitalisation and emerging technologies, and no longer bound by traditional structures.

With more than 700 years of history, the Imprensa Nacional Casa da Moeda (INCM) – also known as the Portuguese mint and national press – is committed to enhancing its role as a progressive, globally engaged organisation through a strategic focus on innovation, collaboration, and expansion. Its recent initiatives and partnerships demonstrate a strong dedication to providing high-security, technology-driven solutions for both domestic and international markets.

In the February 2024 edition of Authentication & Brand News™, we examined how David Beckham, the celebrated former England footballer, was intensifying efforts against counterfeit manufacturers illicitly selling fake products – including clothing and fragrances – under his brand. This article looks at the latest organisations to have adopted near-field communication (NFC) technology for authenticating sporting apparel and memorabilia.

A new method for combating whisky refill fraud has been developed by combining molecular science with blockchain technology.

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has completed two pilot projects to test its ‘Authentic View’ blockchain infrastructure, which is designed to combat counterfeiting.

Registration is now open for the Optical & Digital Document Security™ (ODDS) conference, which will be held in Warsaw from 15-17 September 2025.

At the beginning of 2024, All4Labels, one of the world’s largest label manufacturers, launched a subsidiary called Integritag, as part of its expansion into brand protection and smart packaging.

At the recent World Money Fair (WMF), Germania Mint unveiled a special release coin featuring Black Light Colours technology.

François-Charles Oberthur group, a global leader in banknote printing, security solutions and technologies, has partnered with Giriraj Foils, a well-respected name in India's high-security films, stamping foils and laminates, to deliver advanced authentication solutions tailored for the Indian market.

The Authentication Solution Providers' Association (ASPA) hosted the sixth edition of the Traceability and Authentication Forum in New Delhi on March 17-18. The event emphasised the need for stronger anti-counterfeiting laws and an increased use of authentication and traceability tools.

Located in Lancaster University, UK, Quantum Base (QB) has announced its intention to list on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market in April 2025. The company aims to raise between £3 million and £5 million through a placing and retail offer to support product development and commercial expansion, joining the growing number of quantum technology companies advancing their authentication solutions.

At the recent High Security Printing™ EMEA conference in Basel, Switzerland, Dr Alexander Brannan from the University of Manchester, and Gary Spinks of Security Fibres UK, presented advances in colour-changing smart materials designed for rapid authentication. This technology addresses key issues in anticounterfeiting by integrating academic research with industrial application.

As Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, puts it, 'Your smartphone is now your passport, your bank, and your key to the digital world', There is no doubt about its increasing usage in our lives. In the authentication industry, smartphones are also important in facilitating the digital authentication of banknotes, identity and tax stamps. The authentication industry integrates digital security features that link high-security printing with the digital world. This article explores several recent innovations.

The International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA) has been approved as a liaison organisation to the CEN- CENELEC technical committee responsible for developing EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) standards.

Researchers in China have developed a non-petroleum film for packaging applications that can extend the shelf life of foods, show when spoilage has occurred, and has fluorescent properties that could be used as an anticounterfeit feature.

With sales of vinyl records rocketing in recent years, it was inevitable that counterfeiters would enter the market to try to make a fast buck – and a recently published US patent describes one way to fight back, reports SecuringIndustry.com

If you have ever lived in or visited China, you will undoubtedly be familiar with the iconic Moutai brand. However, outside of China, it remains largely unknown. Still, in 2024, Moutai’s brand value rose to $50.1 billion, making it the world’s most valuable spirit for the ninth consecutive year, according to Brand Finance.

Anti-Counterfeiting News, Product Protection News, Brand Protection News… these were some of the titles that we dreamed up when we decided to launch Reconnaissance’s second newsletter, as our first, Holography News®, was increasingly reporting the security uses of holograms.

Crane NXT has secured its first micro- optics contract through the OpSec Security channel with a luxury perfume brand.