Underwriters Laboratories and Michigan State University Formalize Agreement to Work Together Against Counterfeits

Most older adults who purchase counterfeit products buy them unknowingly. But that’s far less true of young adults — a much greater percentage of consumers under 30 years old knowingly buy fake products, market research indicates.

Why buy fakes? Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and the Michigan State University Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP) joined forces to answer this and myriad other questions related to counterfeit products. The two organizations finalized a general memorandum of understanding (MOU) in February 2022 to foster academic cooperation in anti-counterfeiting education, outreach, and research.

Underwriters Laboratories and A-CAPP will jointly conduct a global survey to gather data and information on the public’s attitude toward counterfeit products. Through the survey, the organizations will develop a mechanism to identify, track, and report upon consumer attitudes and counterfeit consumption trends.

“MSU and Underwriters Laboratories have a joint desire to use research to inform anti-counterfeiting policy and practice, and initiating our partnership with the consumer survey highlights this focus,” said Jeff Rojek, director of the A-CAPP Center.