IHMA's Image Register Becomes Easier & Free to Members

The International Hologram Manufacturers' Association (IHMA) is making major improvements to the Hologram Image Register (HIR) to facilitate and encourage more members to register more of the holograms they produce for their customers. The key change is that the hologram search and register forms are being merged in to one hologram proposal form which will be available for online completion in a web browser. The operation of the HIR is also being merged with the Hologram Manufacturers of India's (HoMAI's) Hologram Roster to further improve the efficiency of the procedures.

The HIR was established in 1993, in the early years of the IHMA, and it remains one of only three recognised databases of security products; the other two are the HoMAI database and the Postal Union's database of postage stamps. This should give an edge to holograms as an authentication device, because it allows the unique facility to search the Register to find whether a proposed hologram infringes an existing design - and is therefore a suspected attempt to source a counterfeit.
Searches of the Register can also be undertaken when a suspected counterfeit is found anywhere in the world, so that it can be compared with the genuine hologram and if it is found to be fake, the producer and customer for the original can be notified.

This has been proven to be successful. Several attempts to make counterfeit holograms have failed because the HIR demonstrated the hologram was already being made by an IHMA member.
Similarly, there have been cases of fake holograms reported to the HIR which has then proved useful in demonstrating that they were, indeed, fakes. Prosecutions have been assisted in this way and at least some counterfeiters punished as a result.

The IHMA's Board had become concerned, though, that not all members were taking advantage of this facility to register their holograms and some members were not registering all the holograms they originate for customers. This weakens the HIR for all members, even those that register all their holograms. Accordingly the IHMA commissioned a review of the operation of the HIR from David Pizzanelli, a former chairman of the Association. His report was considered by the Board which accepted the gist of his recommendations. At the AGM in November 2008 members agreed to fund these proposed changes.

No Charge to Register Holograms

The most critical change is that registering holograms will now be included in IHMA membership. Only IHMA members are entitled to register holograms (because that is the only way the IHMA can be sure of the probity of those registering) so it seemed logical to remove the barrier of having to pay to register each hologram.

As mentioned above, the Search Request and Register Request forms are being merged in to one Hologram Proposal Form, which actually reflects a streamlining of the search and register procedures. In future, instead of two forms being submitted and a clearance note being issued after the search, a search of the register for matching images will be undertaken on receipt of the proposal form, and the hologram will be registered on confirmation that it has been produced. The procedure in the event of a match being found, which is designed to check whether the second registration is legitimate - for a second source, or a new supplier - for example, remains in place.

This new Hologram Proposal Form is being designed for internet use, so that it can be filled in using a web browser, with check boxes and drop-down menus to facilitate quick completion. The target is to have this available (at least in beta testing mode by June 1). In due course this will also be completely integrated with the HIR database, which is being converted from an Axes system to a MSQL system to make it more efficient.

What won't change is that the HIR database itself will remain off-line and isolated from the internet. It will continue to be operated by the Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau of the Commercial Crime Services division of the International Chamber of Commerce. Only authorised staff at CIB will have access, and the HIR operation will remain totally confidential between these staff and the IHMA member registering holograms.

IHMA & HoMAI Registrations to Merge

In a separate but related development the IHMA and HoMAI have agreed to integrate the registration of holograms. This follows an agreement three years ago for HoMAI to become a member of the IHMA, with privileges of IHMA membership extended to its members. Previously the fact that registration with the HoMAI register was free but the HIR charged for registration was a barrier to integration, but the IHMA's decision to make HIR registration free has removed that barrier. In future, HoMAI members will register their holograms with the HIR rather than with HoMAI.

This means that a search of the register will no longer run the risk of failing to spot a match with a hologram being produced in India. Holograms registered on the HoMAI database which are still current will need to be re-registered on the HIR.