15 January 2026
Counterfeiting is no longer just a luxury problem. Fake goods now cut across cosmetics, electronics, car parts, toys and medicines—costing businesses billions and putting consumers at risk.
A breakthrough from the University of Copenhagen may offer something brand owners have long needed: proof of authenticity tied to each individual product.
The Idea: Products With an Unclonable Identity
Developed by chemist Thomas Just Sørensen, O-KEY technology creates a tiny, invisible digital fingerprint that cannot be copied.
How it works:
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A microscopic mark (around 1mm²) is applied to a product or its packaging
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The mark contains randomly distributed micro-particles
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The pattern is physically impossible to recreate
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It can be scanned with a normal smartphone
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Each scan links to legally recognised authentication data
No serial numbers. No QR codes to fake. Every item is genuinely one of a kind.
First Movers: Royal Copenhagen
Luxury porcelain brand Royal Copenhagen is among the first to roll out the technology.
The result?
Immediate visibility across its supply chain and confidence that each item reaching customers is authentic—supported by legally defensible proof.
The same technology is already being used on Kay Bojesen collectibles and high-security products internationally.
From Research to Reality
What began as university research into physically unclonable functions (PUFs) has now been commercialised through spin-out company PUFIN-ID. The system includes:
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industrial-scale labelling equipment
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AI-driven fingerprint tracking
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a consumer-ready smartphone app
This is no longer lab science—it’s deployable brand infrastructure.
Why This Matters for IP Strategy
Counterfeits undermine more than sales. They weaken Trade Marks, damage goodwill, and make enforcement harder—especially when fake goods move through grey markets.
Item-level authentication changes the equation by giving brands:
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stronger evidence in enforcement actions
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better control over distribution and resale
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clearer contract compliance
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increased consumer trust
But technology only works if it’s integrated into a smart IP and legal strategy.
Build Protection That Actually Holds Up
At IP Solved, we help brands go beyond surface-level protection by:
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aligning authentication tech with Trade Mark, design and contract rights,
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strengthening enforcement pathways across markets,
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reducing exposure to counterfeits and unauthorised resale, and
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future-proofing brand value as products scale globally.
Talk to IP Solved if you want anti-counterfeit protection that works in the real world—not just on paper.
