What is the stealth individual identification technology that creates "digital fingerprints," a new idea in the fight against Fake goods?

In recent years, counterfeit technology has improved, and not only the products and packaging, but also the individual identification code is counterfeited. As a result, the certainty of the distribution channel is distorted and making it difficult to distinguish Fake goods from Genuine products.

There are various technologies for individual identification codes for countermeasures, such as serial numbers and two-dimensional codes.
However, as long as the technology is visible, the risk of the individual identification code itself being counterfeited is unavoidable. As a result, countermeasures to prevent Fake goods are invalidated, resulting in a "tit-for-tat" situation like "anti-counterfeiting for anti-counterfeiting's sake," which does not lead to a fundamental solution.

To avoid the risk of counterfeiting, which continues to use visible codes such as serial numbers and 2D codes, it is important to utilize "individual identification technology invisible to the eye"
By utilizing a technology that provides a different form of individual identification than the visible code, even if the identification code is duplicated, the traceability of the product is ensured by the "invisible identification technology.
For example, the following identification technologies are available

Unevenness in printing on a package, like a fingerprint, is unique and cannot be imitated by any printing technology. Stealth individual identification technology" is a Counterfeit protection technology that can identify such slight unevenness in printing.
It does not use visible identification technology such as serial numbers or individual identification codes, but uses naturally occurring printing surface unevenness, which is not visible to the naked eye and cannot be imitated.

For individual identification, a camera is first used to capture images of any part of the package.
The captured image is used to detect minute differences in printing using an algorithm based on the cloud system, making it possible to identify each individual package. When matching, authenticity determination is performed by comparing the data captured by the camera with the data captured at the time of shipment.

Since unevenness in printing surface naturally occurring on printed materials is used for identification, there is no need for special processing or printing for identification. The unevenness of the printing on the produced product package becomes a "Digital Printing Fingerprint" that can be used to identify the individual product without changing the conventional package production line.

The area used to identify unevenness in printing is a small area of 1 cm x 1 cm or less.
Because the authentication area is small, it is difficult for a third party to identify the imaging area. In addition, this technology can be used for all types of packages because it can authenticate even if the package is dirty or scratched.

Stealth individual identification technology is also useful in identifying the source of illegal distribution of Logistics.
In recent years, there have been an increasing number of cases of unauthorized resale through unauthorized sales channels. However illegal distribution to avoid identification of the source of distribution, in many cases, the codes are cut off in order.

Stealth individual identification technology also manages "digital fingerprints," which ensures traceability even if serial numbers or 2D codes are no longer available, making it possible to identify the source of illegal distribution of Logistics and promote countermeasures.

Fuji Seal International offers "Deep IS", a traceability system that utilizes stealth individual identification technology.
"Deep IS" utilizes stealth individual identification technology, which identifies slight unevenness in printing, to trace products, thus enabling individual product identification for each product without the use of 2D codes.
Even when 2D codes can no longer be used, tracing can still be performed, making it possible to identify Fake goods.

The individual identification information is stored in the system's Data. Consumers who purchase a product can use their smartphones to take a picture of the product package, which can then be checked against the identification information in the system's Data to make an authenticity determination.
In the event that counterfeit products are purchased by mistake, consumers can also identify Fake goods themselves through smartphone authentication.^*

*Smart phones are limited to certain models.

"Deep IS" can be introduced with a microscope to image packages and a PC to manage product information.
In addition, since individually identified labels can be supplied, the system can be introduced relatively easily without significantly changing the flow of the current shipping and Logistics process.