C. F. Martin & Co. Protects Brand and Prevents Counterfeiting with Botanical DNA

Legendary guitar maker expands use of DNA marking to authenticate its guitar strings

Stony Brook, N.Y.August 2, 2012Applied DNA Sciences Inc., (APDN) a provider of botanical DNA-based product verification solutions, announces that guitar maker C.F. Martin & Co. (Martin Guitar) expanded DNA marking to protect and authenticate its guitar strings.

“Botanical DNA marking provides the ultimate security by protecting the guitar strings and the guitar itself at the original point of manufacture,” said Gregory Paul, Vice President of Business Development, C. F. Martin & Co. “DNA technology will help us to ascertain product authenticity and it is consistent with Martin Guitar's intellectual property protection strategy. Use of this technology for strings and other musical instruments by others in our industry can only help in the fight against counterfeiting.”

As part of the DNA authentication platform, any guitars made by Martin Guitar from 2011 will be able to be identified and forensically authenticated.

“We continue to work with Applied DNA Sciences on developing this program, first with our custom guitars, which have now extended to our laminates, and soon we will begin to mark our strings,” said Chris Martin IV, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Martin Guitar. “We are serious about protecting our brand. Like I have said before, if you want to make guitars go ahead—just don't use the Martin Guitar name on it.”

Martin Guitar selected botanical DNA over other authentication technologies because it can be used to covertly mark a guitar, with its location known only to Martin Guitar, and for the strength in DNA generally in prosecution. Botanical DNA can also be used in combination with wireless tracking technologies such as RFID as a way to ensure that those devices are not copied or tampered with. As guitars are botanically DNA-marked in quantity, forensic authentication by Botanical DNA’s labs—both as a quality control measure and also testing of products already in the field—can prove in time to be a strong anti-counterfeiting platform.

Famously wielded by singers like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Freedy Johnston, and Robbie Robertson, Martin guitars are displayed at a museum at the factory in Nazareth, Pa. where the Martin Owners Club Event is held. Last year, the company celebrated the creation of guitar number 1,500,000, counting from its first creations in a workshop in what is now the TriBeCa section of New York in 1833.

“It is clear that protection of musical instruments and accessories is becoming vital to manufacturers,” said Dr. James A. Hayward, Chief Executive Officer, Applied DNA Sciences. “We have been approached by musical instrument manufacturers and we are convinced that this is an increasingly relevant category for Applied DNA Sciences, beneficial to our business and to those of future partners.”

APDN will exhibit its botanical DNA authentication technology at the Martin Owners Club Event on August 3, 2012 in Nazareth, Pa.

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