PARIS, Feb 1: The Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau of the International Chamber of Commerce is offering its members a highly-sophisticated hologram as a defence against forgery of such items as payment and identification cards, share certificates, or branded products, says a press release.

The hologram has been de-’ veloped exclusively for the use of ICC members, and can be obtained at bargain-basement prices because there are no initial design and origination costs involved. Charges will depend on client requirements, quantities Involved, and whether any customisation of materials or image is Involved.

State-of-the-art technology is used in the CIB hologram, which relies on a new technique know as multigram®, specially developed for the CIB By Applied Holographies — a world leader in optical technology. Multigram® is a complex multifaceted image that provides high security standards while remaining visually attractive.

Peter Lowe. Director of the CIB. said: "Holograms are now as common and recognisable as the watermark that long-established method of authenticating banknotes and other papers of exchange value. The CIB hologram Is one of the most subtle ever devised and would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. to copy." The CIB Director said that, to his knowledge, there has not been a single verifiable case of a well-designed authenticating hologrambeing accurately copied.

Lowe added: The CIB is constantly on the look-out for more effective ways to combat all types of counterfeiting. It's a real technological race between the good guys and the bad guys. We are constantly coming across fakes that nave been made almost Impossible to detect without exhaustive scientific tests because crooks — and particularly organised crime — are able to abuse new technology."

Last month, the CIB announced an alliance with anticounterfeiting groups from leading Industrial countries to coordinate their response to the increased Involvement of organised crime In making and selling fake goods. The alliance includes groups based in France. Germany. Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.