The Hologram Image Register (HIR) is a system of priority registration that allows members of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) to register their hologram images, so that other producers or intermediaries can check against the register and gain confidence that they are not reproducing an existing hologram before they make a new design.
The HIR is operated on behalf of IHMA members by the Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau (CIB), which in turn is part of the Commercial Crime Services division of the International Chamber of Commerce, and operates under the strictest confidence and security that supports ISO14298 1. The register is made available to law enforcement agencies to check the provenance of a design when they need information on a suspect hologram.
The HIR has helped to prevent numerous attempts to get copy holograms produced and has also helped to confirm that a suspect hologram was, indeed, a fake, which in turn has led to arrests and prosecution of the counterfeiters.
Moreover, registration of a hologram design with the HIR is increasingly a precondition of tenders and procurement, particularly by government bodies such as central banks, revenue authorities and passport issuers, as well as brand owners.
Established in 1993, the HIR was one of the first projects undertaken by the IHMA and has been referred to as the association’s ‘Crown Jewels’.
The number of registrations on the register has now passed the incredible figure of 10,000 – making it the most comprehensive security device tool of its kind in the world – but the IHMA is not sitting on its laurels.
To get a better understanding of how to improve the HIR system, Dr Paul Dunn, Chair of the IHMA, wrote to members asking them for feedback on how they use the HIR and, from their responses, the association is now introducing two major changes to improve the speed and efficiency of the registration process.
The first finding from the survey was that members wanted the registration time to be reduced. The requirements of the artwork needed to upload to the HIR portal were simplified which has already resulted in saving a significant amount of time from submitting a design to receiving clearance.
The second issue identified by members was confusion surrounding copyright ownership of original artwork provided by clients in the form of logos and other brand graphics. The IHMA found a way to remove this bottleneck and, at the same time, guarantee each member has its own internal process to ensure they have full authorisation when a design is submitted.
The changes were announced by Dr Dunn at The Holography Conference Online in November 2021. Feedback from members has confirmed that the changes provide a greater degree of confidence that once registered, the CIB can more easily check for counterfeits or inadvertent copies. They will take effect this month (February 2022).
