SCOTTISH tech company SnapDragon has launched an automated brand monitoring platform to combat the threat of fake goods, covering markets from toys to electrical items.
The Edinburgh-based firm has created Swoop to wage war on online criminal gangs of counterfeiters across all sectors with the first software of its type to be publicly available.
The skills and specialist knowledge built up by the company’s team of linguists and IP experts over three years of manually searching for fakes and working in partnership with the world’s busiest online marketplaces has shaped the design of Swoop, which automates that process. It marks a major change for international online brand protection, which was previously unaffordable for most.
By offering Swoop as software as a service (SaaS) and at a price SMEs can afford, SnapDragon gives all companies access to a world-class, robust, brand protection strategy.
Company founder Rachel Jones, who is pictured with head of research Jet Doran, said: “Fake goods can destroy brands. I should know; it very nearly happened to me. I took action to fight back and have spent the last few years helping other companies do the same.
“Today we are automating that process. By enabling companies, large and small, to find fakes, and by empowering them with the knowledge to take action, sales of counterfeit goods can be prevented, brands and the consumer can both be kept safe, businesses remain profitable and fund flow to criminal enterprises cut.”
Mandy Haeburn-Little, CEO of the Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) said: “I am genuinely delighted to see a company as respected, nimble and visionary as SnapDragon emerge. Scotland has an excellent reputation for innovation and Rachel Jones is one of those rare and outstanding individuals prepared to stand up and safeguard the wider interests of the whole legitimate business community.
“Ironically, counterfeits and fake goods are areas where there has been considerable entrepreneurship as malicious and reckless companies have seen the opportunity to make a fast buck, regardless of the ruthless damage they cause – whether this be physical, financial or to infrastructure.
“It is precisely because of these insidious and entirely malicious companies that we need champions in the world of protection.
“Rachel Jones and SnapDragon are at the forefront of this activity in Scotland, the wider UK and internationally. For any company trading online, you need to look at SnapDragon.”
The software is fast and easy to use, and helps brands of any size find counterfeits and copycat goods being sold online and subsequently report them for removal.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here