Samsung sees a glut of fake USB drives

Market says top importers involved

In the past few weeks it has come into light that Samsung
manufactured USB drives are doing the rounds of the market under the Samsung
brand name. It is to be noted that Samsung does not market its USB flash drives
under the Samsung brand name all over the worldwide and only acts as OEM
suppliers.

Samsung in a press release stated that "these drives
available in the market with the Samsung brand name and logo imprinted on it is
a spurious product and Samsung holds no responsibility towards it."

Silicon Impex markets the Samsung drives in India under
Simmtronics P’n’P brand.

When contacted Gaurav Jain, Business Development Manager,
Silicon Impex, he said, "We came to know about such an activity only last
month and in my knowledge this had been going on around for the last five
months. When the Samsung President was here we brought this thing to his notice
too. He promised that action will be taken but it will take sometime."

According to him, three top importers are involved in this, who
has been importing these products from China. Not naming them, Jain further
stated, "The branding in Samsung’s name is done itself in China. Its not
that products are brought to India and then branded here."

When asked if it’s just the Delhi market where these products
are been available Jain commented, "I do not have much idea if this fake
Samsung drives are being available throughout India but atleast in Delhi we know
it."

When contacted Ajesh Kapoor, Country Head (Semi-conductors),
Samsung, informed, "We are having an internal discussions on the problem
and will soon find out a way. What will be our plan of action will be too early
to say eight now but definitely the higher au-thorities have taken note about
it." He too had not much idea if the drives were avail-able in other parts
of the country or not.

According to mar-ket reports, Samsung India will have to wait as
the decisions are taken from the headquarters based in Korea. Until and unless
Samsung India gets a green signal from Korea it is not in a position to take
decisions on their own.

In the meantime Silicon Impex has embarked upon educating the
dealers about the fake drives. "We are sending mailers and getting in touch
with media to make the people aware about this activity," remarked Jain.

DQW News Bureau

New Delhi