Sigma Alpha Iota

A closer look Combatting Counterfeit Musical Instruments I n recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the amount of consumer goods being counterfeited around the globe. Many people have heard of counterfeit handbags, shoes, or clothing being sold, but how many of you know that counterfeit musical instruments are also being produced? These counterfeit products, regardless of type, cost the manufacturers millions of dollars and many workers their jobs. Purchasing a counterfeit instrument is comparable to illegally downloading a song on the internet. The composer doesn't get paid for their work, nor does the music producer, the production company, or the artist. In the case of the counterfeit instrument, there has been copyright infringement, and the design of the instrument has been stolen. Also, the instrument has been manufactured with substandard materials with no quality control in regards to the production criterion, and the company that designed it does not receive proper compensation for their work. Musical instrument manufacturing companies, like the Henri Selmer Paris Company, spend a lot of time and money promoting their brand throughout the world. They carefully craft how their company image is perceived by the public and how their product is viewed and received by their customers. When counterfeiters begin changing certain aspects of the instrument design, such as the lacquer color or type of finish, consumers in the marketplace may get confused, thinking that the company itself is actually offering a new product. This could potentially have negative effects for companies like Selmer Paris, if those "new products" are not well received. Therefore, the manufacturers take action to ensure that these counterfeit products never reach the market, and that the general public is well educated about the differences between legitimate and counterfeit goods. The Henri Selmer Paris Company is the undisputed leader of professional saxophones and mouthpieces. It is an independent, familyowned company that manufactures instruments in France while maintaining exceptional quality. Recently, Selmer Paris launched a campaign on Facebook in order to further educate their fans and consumers about the differences between legitimate Selmer Paris saxophones and counterfeit saxophones that they have discovered. The campaign includes side-by-side photographs of legitimate Selmer Paris saxophones and a counterfeit. By educating the general public about how to spot a counterfeit good, the Henri Selmer Paris Company is narrowing the market in which these faux goods can be sold and assisting their customers by keeping them from being duped by counterfeiters. It is being published in both French and English so that the Henri Selmer Paris Company will be able to reach their international customers. When attempting to determine whether a Henri Selmer Saxophone is legitimate, first look at the finish of the instrument. Selmer Paris produces saxophones with six different finishes, and, unlike some other saxophone manufacturers, they do not produce saxophones with jewel-toned lacquers. You will not see a red, blue, green, or purple Selmer Paris saxophone, so a saxophone with that type of finish is a dead giveaway that it is a counterfeit. Looking at Figure A, the Selmer Paris "Reference" model is available in two different finishes, the Antiqued Lacquer (left) and the Dark Gold Lacquer (center). The "Reference" model is not available in the black lacquer (right), and the one shown is a counterfeit. The finish of the instrument is only the first step for determining the instrument's legitimacy. Look closely at the engraving on the bell of the saxophone, and compare the brand mark, model, and any other distinguishing marks on the instrument against a verified photograph of a Selmer Paris saxophone. The Henri Selmer Paris Company has many photographs of their instruments on their corporate website at www.selmer.fr. As you can see from Figures B & C, the first indication that these are counterfeits is the purple and red lacquer. Upon closer inspection of the engraving, "Henri Selmer Paris" is written in a different font, "Made in France" is in a INSTRUMENTS continued on page 20 FIGURE A: A comparison of actual and fake finishes of Selmer Paris instruments. sai-national.org SUMMER 2011 PAN PIPES 19

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