Samsung sees a glut of fake USB drives

CyberMedia News

New Delhi

April 29, 2004

In the past few weeks facts have come into light that Samsung manufactured
USB drives were 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 world 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 Silicon Impex business development manager Gaurav Jain 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 at least in Delhi we know
it."

When contacted Samsung country head (semi-conductors) Ajesh Kapoor 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 but
definitely the higher authorities have taken note about it." He too had not
much idea if the drives were available in other parts of the country or not.

According to market 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 its
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.

- CYBERMEDIA NEWS