New IHMA Security Image Register “reflects changes in global holography”

The former Hologram Image Register – the only system of its type for the authentication community – has been expanded and rebranded as the Security Image Register in a move that “reflects the changing dynamics” of the global security holography industry.

The sophistication of holograms has evolved significantly in recent years. Increasingly, they’re being incorporated and integrated with other optical variable devices technologies to provide holistic, added value and advanced authentication and anti-counterfeiting solutions.

Key changes

The Primary Visual Feature selection has been updated to include a choice of 13 current optical technologies that now fall with a general Optically Variable Device category. The Hologram Image Register phrase and logo has been replaced by the Security Image Register phrase and logo and the word ‘Hologram’ will be replaced by the terminology ‘Optical Variable Device’.

The centrally held global database of secure holograms will continue to be operated on behalf of the IHMA by the Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau under the strictest confidence and security that supports ISO14298 on behalf of registered members.

The Security Image Register will be available to hologram producers, manufacturers of other optical variable devices, security printers and the designers of documents. It will also be made available to central Government and institutions such as central banks, revenue authorities and passport issuers through their appointed security image suppliers.

This will then enable them to verify that their security hologram design – or otherwise elements of a hologram design – do not infringe copyright or allow the unintentional copying of existing security holograms. The image registration is completed once the design has received clearance.

Law enforcement

The Security Image Register will also be accessible to law enforcement agencies, thereby allowing them to check for the provenance of a design when they need information on a potentially suspect hologram.

Ultimately, the expanded Security Image Register is designed to introduce image registration to the full spectrum of optical security manufacturers. It provides a global database that protects the security image by recording and identifying all copyright associated with the design and manufacture of a security image. Each registration will be allocated a unique reference number that can be tracked to support authentication of the image and its copyright.

Copyright and Intellectual Property

The copyright and Intellectual Property (IP) section of the Security Image Register secure portal offers distinct advantages for IHMA members. It significantly reduces the time taken for registration, which is a fully online process whereby artwork is submitted electronically to provide quicker design checks. The hologram producer or supplier submitting a design search will need to ensure they have the authorisation of their customers to use copyrighted artwork provided for use in the final hologram.

This is achieved by acceptance in the portal of warranties and indemnities to that effect, significantly speeding up the whole verification process and ensuring copyright/IP is clearly identified and protected for all parties.

IHMA chair Dr Paul Dunn explained: “Over the years, holograms have evolved into highly sophisticated security images, while new processes have been introduced that are not conventional holograms in the strictest sense. The new look Security Image Register reflects a rapidly changing sector wherein hologram technology is increasingly part of an integrated security offer designed to protect brands, profits and people. It represents a beneficial step forward, more accurately reflecting the way in which holograms and Optical Variable Devices are designed and used. This will undoubtedly facilitate an increase in the registration of images and secure their integrity.”

10,000 registrations

The Security Image Register includes nearly 10,000 registrations: a number that’s growing by the day. It has helped to prevent numerous attempts to source copied holograms as well as confirm that potentially suspect holograms were indeed fakes. This, in turn, has assisted law enforcement authorities in their ongoing pursuit of the counterfeiters.

Moreover, the registration of a hologram design with the Security Image Register is increasingly a pre-condition of tenders and procurement, and notably so when it comes to Government bodies and brand owners.

ISO 14298: Management of Security Printing (and Security Foil) Processes specifies requirements for the management of security printing processes. Its goals are to improve security for the industry in respect of security printing and aid the fight against fraud and forgery, reduce trade barriers by encouraging uniform practices around the world and satisfy clients’ increasing security needs.

*Further information is available online at www.ihma.org