Upper Deck is working on preventing patch faking

[pghbuccos]

I just read this on a different board and wanted to share it here. this is an email response from Upper Deck to a customer asking what UD can do to prevent patch faking...

This is very tricky to say the least. We have explored adding in design elements over the patch to decrease the likelihood someone would attempt to augment the patch, but collectors haven’t been wild about that.

We have looked at getting images of the cards, but having a place to put all those images is difficult and not something every collector would review. Additionally, if they have a factory damaged card and get it replaced, there is a different card in the mix that could cause problems later as it would have a different patch with the same number.

We have begun using different adhesives to make it more difficult to tamper with patches and added foil to the area surrounding the patch to increase the likelihood the cards would be damaged if people attempted to augment them. We have even explored adding a device that would inject ink to the cards if they are tampered with, but it is too unstable.

We have also brought charges against some of the individuals we believe have resold fake patches for copyright infringement, but unfortunately these are very difficult cases to try. We encourage collectors to share what they find in forums like this and elsewhere. Also, we would very much need to hear about them as well even though we might be aware of them already. You can send information about potential patch forging to our Fraud Investigations Team at fit@upperdeck.com.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

I can't tell by the context if they are continuing to try, or simply thrown in the towel.

Providing an online dbase of patches from a product is time-consuming, but really the only way to truly throw a monkey-wrench in the process. No matter the adhesive, you're still dealing with paper and therefore a patch can be removed. The foil edges is nice because it is flaky and should chip if tampered with, but it's no guarantee.

Basically, no matter the construction, tampering with the patch is possible so at least make the actual patches traceable, but the system it would take to do that would be tough to create, but it could be semi-automated I would assume.

The fact remains...people still buy the cards regardless and there is little financial return for the companies in implementing a new system.

 

[pghbuccos]

Mike I agree it is hard to tell the context from the email. I also agree that the only real way to attempt to prevent fake patches from being resold would be an online database but that would only work if every buyer was aware of said database. a mom buying a card for her son or daughter as a gift isn't going to know about the database so the cards will still be sold.

unfortunately like you said it really doesn't effect UD or Panini's sales numbers so they certainly don't want to put a ton of money or time into a system to stop patch faking. I would like to see them use the top loader and seals that ITG uses. even though the seals can be removed and reused it would make it more difficult to do.

I also like the idea of covering the patch with a piece of acetate like UD does with the Ice jersey/auto cards but I understand some people like to feel the patch and obviously this would prevent that from occuring.

in the end there may never be a way to completely prevent patch faking but I am glad UD is actually looking at different ways to do it and asking for advice and suggestions from collectors.

 

[Card Magnet]

Here's a solution for them - put plastic over the patch, but just a little bit. I know that a company (is it ITG?) puts a full cover over the material. My suggestion is just have a sliver of the plastic come over the window, so that they would not be able to remove the swatch and insert another with that hard plastic around it. Just as an added step when making the card, ensure that all patches have an end under the plastic so that nobody can put one in the middle of the window, but not under the plastic at all, and say that it came that way. I hope that makes sense.

Another thing they could do to educate is have a small page on their website with information on fake cards, and print the link on their boxes and/or wrappers.

 

[wigglytuff]

Strong adhesive + thin perforated backing layer, even just a very thin backing layer that the swatch is adhered to.
Fully encased/sealed within the card (ie clear acetate top layer over swatch)
Strong adhesive with a filament netting backing that extends past the swatch and encroaches further into the card than the window/swatch. Removal will pull the filaments along with the swatch.


Many, many simple avenues available to be explored