Fun and games in Melbourne

Counterfeiters be warned. Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games organisers are not taking any chances when it comes to protecting their licensed apparel products from counterfeiters.
Anticipating an onslaught of unscrupulous operators seeking to make a quick buck from the popularity of the event, the games' licensing division has employed the use of "anti-counterfeit" stickers to protect the authenticity of its licensed product.
Central to the success of the stickers, produced by Queensland-based firm Brand Integrity International, is the use of DNA technology.
Games Licensing coordinator Brooke McDonald confirmed DNA protection is applied to the merchandise on two levels.
The first is the use of a special spectral/temporal signal embodied in an ink or dye that can be instantly verified by a small handheld electronic scanner. A fixed code or sequential coding is also applied so that every tag is unique and can be easily verified for authenticity, McDonald said.
In keeping with the theme of the games, organisers are using the DNA of a south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo for the merchandise protection, in a move they claimed added even more to the already important role of the official games mascot, Karak. Karak features on one third of all official licensed product.
Brand Integrity International managing director Ron Taylor said the same technology was used during the Sydney 2000 OlymThe stickers will be used on all licensed products including that supplied from the official apparel suppliers for the games:
* Fashion Buttons, which will provide swing tags and sew in labels
* Innovation Jewellery (assorted jewellery items)
* Driza-bone (traditional Driza-bone Australiana products)
* Playcorp (apparel, headwear and bags) and
* Signature rings (commemorative jewellery.

In all, more than 40 licensees make up the program, crossing a broad range of categories including accessories, plush toys, collectables, publishing, souvenir and novelty.