How many times have we read reports in the popular press referring to seizures of software in which the reporter gushes 'everything was copied, the disk, the packaging and even the hologram'? They omit to report that it was the attempted copying of the hologram that tipped off investigators to the fakes. I've lost count of how many fake Artesunate holograms I've seen, but guess wha?t Investigators can tell the difference between all the copies and the original. Linguistic semantics may be to blame here. The word 'copy' suggests something indistinguishable from the original, but in holography this is rarely the case. The counterfeiters 'copies' are usually so unconvincing that the term 'attempted simulation' would be more accurate.

The same argument can be made about any overt security feature and yet it would be a rash brand owner who would completely deny the value of any first level authentication on his packaging.

Would you like to learn the truth about holography? The strengths and weaknesses? Maybe some ways to use it more effectively? If you are competing against holography with your technology, maybe some ways to work with it more effectively? Or even sell against it with credibility? There's even a workshop for package designers I hear.

The place for this is Holo-Pack and Holo-Print in Las Vegas November 9 to 11, 2010 www.holopack-holoprint.com. Educate yourself, become an expert, stop saying ignorant things about holography. I dare you.