title: Forgery: 'fingerprinting' documents and packaging.
abstract: We have found that almost all paper documents, plastic cards and product packaging contain a unique physical identity code formed from microscopic imperfections in the surface. This covert 'fingerprint' is intrinsic and virtually impossible to modify controllably. It can be rapidly read using a low-cost portable laser scanner. Most forms of document and branded-product fraud could be rendered obsolete by use of this code.
authors.affiliation: Blackett Physics Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BW, UK.
authors.forename: James D R
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.forename: Russell P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Cowburn
authors.forename: Ana-Vanessa
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Jausovec
authors.forename: Dorothée
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seem
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Del
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fenton
authors.forename: Dan A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Allwood
authors.forename: Matthew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bryan