Shure Against Counterfeiting

Unlike look-alike models marketed under different brand names, counterfeits are illegal copies of Shure products sold as if they were manufactured by Shure. In many cases, counterfeits resemble original Shure products down to the packaging, photography, accessories, user guides and guarantee cards.

The most commonly counterfeited Shure models are the SM57, SM58, Beta57A and Beta58A. Wireless systems such as the discontinued LX88-II have also been found on the market.

First and foremost, buy from Shure authorized dealers whether online or in retail shops. You can find a list of dealers within your region in our Where to Buy section.

Additionally, to get an idea of typical selling prices for the Shure product that interests you, look at mail order catalogs and visit local music stores or audio electronic stores. If the price you find online is much lower than the catalogs or the stores, be cautious as the product might be counterfeit, though an unusually low price does not always indicate a counterfeit product.

If you choose to buy from online dealers and/or online auctions such as eBay, we highly recommend to be cautious when:

You are shopping for SM or Beta models
Prices offered are well below the market average. Don’t get taken in by 'Certificates of Originality' or guarantees that are offered. These are often as fake as the counterfeits.
Be very careful when purchasing a Shure product via eBay or other online auction sites. Though there are many honest individuals and legitimate dealers selling genuine Shure products on such sites, there are also many people selling counterfeit Shure products. Again, if the price seems too good to be true, be suspicious.

Can Shure provide a list of ways to determine if a product is a counterfeit?

If Shure published a list of the differences between Shure genuine products and counterfeit products, the criminal counterfeiters would know how to improve their fakes! Not a good idea for Shure or for our customers.

Raids to shut down counterfeiters
Shure Asia based in Hong Kong works closely with local authorities in Asia to raid and shut down counterfeit manufacturers. In past years, numerous factories were closed, containers were seized in ports of entry and products were publicly destroyed. On a few occasions Shure also collaborates with other microphone manufacturers, which reflects that counterfeits are an industry-wide problem.

Since the overwhelming majority of counterfeit manufacturing plants are based in Asia, Shure Asia employs a counsel who is responsible for Shure’s intellectual property matters in the Asia Pacific region.

Activities against resellers of counterfeits
With the Internet being the medium of our time, the vast majority of counterfeits are sold online. Being the largest virtual marketplace, eBay is particularly affected, a fact that led the company to establish its so-called VeRO Program. This program allows right owners to remove listings if they have a strong suspicion that the products listed are potentially infringing items.

Cooperation with the press
To create further awareness of the fact that a significant number of professional audio products are faked, Shure is closely cooperating with industry publications. A choice of articles which have been issued on counterfeiting in the audio industry can be found.

Shure will use the law against any sales of counterfeit products, be it via resellers or internet platforms. Shure is not only watching, but actively working to rid the marketplace of any sub-standard product to protect the Shure reputation which our customers rely on.

www.a-cg.com
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group - Campaigning Against the Trade in Fakes