April 2026
UK IPO Sounds the Alarm on Counterfeit Cartridges
In their March 2026 blog post, the UK Intellectual Property Office warns of counterfeit ink and toner cartridges (illustrative picture).
The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) has put counterfeit cartridges on the agenda with its March 2026 blog post, which places counterfeit ink and toner cartridges firmly in the spotlight. In the article, Kelsey Jones, Senior Campaigns & Enforcement Manager at the UK IPO Enforcement team, highlights the significant dangers that counterfeit imaging supplies can present to end users and businesses alike, including small and medium‑sized enterprises.
UK IPO: Fake Print Cartridges Are No Minor Issue
By featuring counterfeit cartridges alongside high-profile fake goods, such as counterfeit vehicle parts and medicines, the UK IPO is sending a clear signal of how important it is to act against counterfeit imaging supplies. The UK IPO stresses that counterfeit imaging supplies can come with significant risks for users, including leaking cartridges, poor-quality and potentially damaged printers.
Beyond the technical concerns, the UK IPO highlights the economic impact of counterfeit ink or toner cartridges. Fake imaging supplies are part of a broader economy of counterfeit and pirated goods estimated at USD 467 billion annually, according to OECD/EUIPO estimates cited in the UK IPO post.
The UK Intellectual Property Office highlights that counterfeit imaging supplies can pose significant risks to end users and businesses, including small and medium‑sized enterprises (illustrative picture)
The article, created in cooperation with ICCE, also highlights ICCE as an industry leading organisation combatting counterfeit products. ICCE welcomes the UK IPO’s amplification of its message and promotion of our ICCE website, which provides resources and guidance on how to avoid counterfeit imaging supplies.
“Collaborating with partners such as the UK IPO is integral to what ICCE does. Counterfeiting in the imaging supplies sector is not a victimless crime: it harms consumers, damages businesses, and undermines legitimate industry. When government agencies and industry work together, we can protect legitimate businesses and unsuspecting consumers. ICCE actively encourages all law enforcement and governmental stakeholders to join the efforts to combat counterfeit imaging supplies.”
Stay Vigilant When Shopping for Printing Supplies
The UK IPO blog post summarises some key guidelines that can help consumers and businesses purchase genuine ink and toner cartridges with confidence. It picks up essential tips that ICCE regularly shares importantly, this includes checking the price. If a product is sold at a significantly lower price than usual, this could be a warning sign. As the UK IPO puts it, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Both the UK IPO post and ICCE emphasise additional precautions. These include purchasing only from authorised sellers and carefully checking the products and their packaging. Buyers should look out for spelling errors or colour inconsistencies; and be wary of poor-quality packaging – all of which may indicate a counterfeit‑product.
ICCE Helps Traders and Consumers to Shield Themselves from Fakes
ICCE provides a wide range of information and educational materials on how to spot potentially counterfeit imaging supplies. This includes guidance for consumers on how to safely shop online for genuine imaging supplies. For example, online shoppers should exercise caution if an offer includes unreasonable delivery charges or questionable payment methods. Furthermore, if they are unsure about an online offer, they can check the seller information, which should include contact details, a company website, and a VAT number if applicable.
In addition, ICCE provides specific information for larger organisations that purchase in greater quantities and have more formal arrangements such as tenders or procurement contracts.
Consumers and commercial buyers alike can contact ICCE directly if they have any concerns about an offer or a purchase. Simply use the contact form on the ICCE website to share your concerns. Alternatively, they can reach out to the respective ICCE member brands directly. To do so, simply click on the relevant brand name on our website at icce.net.
ICCE Appreciates Collaborating with the UK IPO
ICCE is grateful for the ongoing support of the UK Intellectual Property Office in defending IP rights in the United Kingdom and looks forward to continuing to work with the organisation.
Collaboration has been at the heart of ICCE’s fight against counterfeit print supplies since its foundation in 1997. This includes teamwork between industry stakeholders, such as our notable cooperation with industry leader Amazon to protect shoppers, as well as our collaboration with law enforcement and governmental stakeholders, including the recent training efforts for customs officials in Türkiye.