New NFC button prevents counterfeiting

A design company is using an app and an NFC button to combat fake products.

Near Field Communication (NFC) is a set of communication protocols that allows two electronic devices to communicate with each other when they are in close proximity. At Springwise, we have seen NFC devices used for ordering drinks and detecting when food has gone off. Now, design company Moooi is using NFC to prevent counterfeiters from copying its furniture and lighting designs. They have developed The Button, a stylish button equipped with NFC technology. By using the Moooi app, The Button can be scanned with any NFC compatible device. For example, this includes a smartphone or tablet. The app will then confirm that the product is an authentic Moooi.

Moooi has incorporated a new Secure Unique NFC message feature into The Button, preventing replication. The Button will be incorporated into every Moooi product and provides buyers with a proof of authenticity. According to Moooi, “Imagine how sound asleep you’ll be every night, knowing you have a little digital superhero guarding your new design treasure”. The company adds that the Button is, “a personal safe-keeper of investing in authentic design”.

According to Vogue, counterfeit designer goods are big business. They point out that a report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in April 2016, gave the value of cross-border trade in fakes as 461 billion in 2013 – the equivalent of the GDP of Austria. While some have tried combatting this fakery with a focus on packaging design and colour consistency, The Button provides a more technological approach to the problem.