Technology could help curb counterfeiting

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

LOS ANGELES —

High-tech help could be on the way for American textiles producers in the ongoing intellectual property war against counterfeiting and fraud.

Applied DNA Sciences here, a provider of DNA-embedded security solutions, and the Agricultural Research Center (ARC) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have entered into a cooperative research and development agreement to begin work on Applied DNA's DNA-embedded market technologies.

The Applied DNA Marker System technology would be used at shipping ports to determine a fabric's origin and ensure compliance with international trade law. The textiles industry and various U.S. government agencies have been attempting to develop programs that will enable the government to determine intellectual-property counterfeiting, before the fabrics get on the market.

ARS's research station in Clemson, S.C. will be the base for the development and purchase of equipment and materials associated with the Applied DNA Marker technology. In April 2003, USDA selected the Applied DNA Marker. It hopes the solution will function as a cost-effective textiles market system for U.S. textiles manufacturers and the Customs Service.