http://www.me-mag.com/ArticleReader.aspx?NewsId=3837
here you guys go....What mitek has to say about this...
Mitek Cracks Down on Illegal Sales
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 -- Mitek has announced that it will be assisting with a criminal investigation into improper sales of Mitek products from unauthorized on-line resellers.
Mitek has delivered information and evidence concerning a series of Mitek products to law enforcement authorities. The company says the products, from which the serial numbers have been either completely removed or defaced, were purchased from unauthorized on-line resellers. California penal code 537e prohibits the sale of any personal property from which the manufacturer's serial number, identification number, electronic serial number, or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been removed, defaced, covered, altered, or destroyed. Mitek says it not only seeks to press criminal charges against the resellers, but will also pursue enjoining any authorized retailer or distributor of Mitek products who enters into a relationship with unauthorized third party resellers. Stated Loyd Ivey, Mitek founder, “This is about much more than just the damage this illegal activity causes Mitek. Mitek has a fiduciary responsibility to protect our loyal, authorized dealers, our end customers and all the people who believe in us.” As part of its constant monitoring of unauthorized distribution of its products, Mitek continuously purchases product from unauthorized resellers in order to research its distribution history, the company says. It was during this process that Mitek says it received product with defaced or destroyed serial numbers. The affected products have been provided to law enforcement authorities, along with all pertinent receipts and other evidence.
Continued Ivey, “Unauthorized resellers can potentially cheat our loyal customers by defacing serial numbers, offering counterfeit products, and disallowing factory warranty coverage. We will continue to be diligent in protecting our authorized dealers and our loyal customers from such misleading, illegal, and unethical practices, and do everything we can to help put these criminals in jail. Mitek puts our money where our mouth is.”
