The SFIB aims to inform users in France of the risk of and damage caused by clones.
SFIB’s clones document
The association, Syndicat de l’industriedes technologies de l’information (or Industry Union of Information Technology) contains OEMs including Brother, Lexmark and Xerox, and shared its guide to dealing with and understanding clones after noting (French only) that the European market is experiencing an “emerging proliferation of cartridges made from new parts but not carrying the brand of printer manufacturers”.
Noting that clones “seem, at first glance [to] provide an additional choice for consumers”, the association notes that the cartridges can “cause several serious consequences” including violating intellectual property, deceiving marketing of the product, and a negative impact on the environment, as well as being poor quality.
Whilst the association also “defends the right of consumers to choose products that meet their specific needs”, it feels a sense of “professional responsibility” to “inform and educate consumers so that they are aware of what they buy and the impact of their purchasing decisions on the industry”.
Introducing its document informing users and resellers about clones, the association noted it is “keen to warn wholesalers, dealers and buyers the need to carefully examine the products they buy or sell”, and believes “everyone can and consiciously and knowingly make the decision not to support vendors selling clones”.
The document, which it refers to as “the official position of the industrial sector”, gives definitions of clones, the agreement of commitment between association members and the initiatives undertaken by its members to tackle the spread of clones. You can view it here (French only).
The production of the guide comes after ETIRA’s Guide to Clones was launched last year, with an English version available to view here.