
Study Period | 2020 - 2030 |
Market Size (2025) | USD 3.72 Billion |
Market Size (2030) | USD 6.32 Billion |
CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 11.18 % |
Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
Largest Market | North America |
Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players![]() *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Authentication And Brand Protection Market Analysis
The Authentication And Brand Protection Market size is estimated at USD 3.72 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 6.32 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 11.18% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
- Driven by the urgent need to safeguard brand reputation, ensure consumer safety, adhere to legal standards, and uphold intellectual property rights, the global authentication and brand protection market is witnessing robust growth. This demand is further intensified by a notable rise in counterfeiting and piracy, especially in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, and electronics.
- Regulatory bodies and governments worldwide are enforcing stringent anti-counterfeit laws, significantly contributing to the market's expansion. A case in point is China's introduction of the China Drug Electronic Administration Code (DEA Code). This barcode, featuring a 20-digit DEA code number, serves as a unique product identifier. Such regulatory mandates have catalyzed advancements in serialization technologies and secure packaging solutions. Companies like Systech International and OPTEL GROUP are at the forefront, crafting holistic track-and-trace systems.
- Blockchain, a standout among emerging technologies, is transforming supply chain traceability. Functioning like a digital ledger, blockchain captures transactions in distinct blocks, creating an unbroken chain. These advanced traceability tools grant users in-depth visibility into the supply chain, bolstering a company's efficiency, transparency, and profitability. Beyond product authentication, blockchain delineates product origins and tracks their journey through logistics. This ensures manufacturers can guarantee timely deliveries to designated locations. Moreover, insights from tracking data help companies identify their most efficient depots, distributors, and preferred supply routes.
- AI-driven technologies enable supply chain participants to authenticate products and detect suspicious patterns indicative of counterfeiting. Image recognition software plays a pivotal role, swiftly analyzing product images and comparing them to originals, even catching the most sophisticated fakes. This large-scale, automated process helps identify counterfeit goods before they mislead consumers. Furthermore, AI excels in spotting intellectual property infringements, such as unauthorized logo usage, allowing businesses to act decisively against violators.
- As counterfeiters evolve, businesses face mounting challenges in devising foolproof authentication methods. The growth of online marketplaces and digital platforms has given counterfeiters a global arena to operate. The international nature of supply chains and the growth of cross-border trade complicate efforts to monitor and curb counterfeit flows. Adding to the challenge, while AI aids in detection, it can also be wielded by counterfeiters to produce convincing replicas, generate misleading images, videos, and even reviews, thereby deceiving customers and harming businesses.
- The global economy faced unprecedented upheaval in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis reverberated across various sectors tied to anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, and security packaging. In response to this surge in counterfeiting, companies pivoted towards blockchain and smart packaging solutions. These innovations, featuring QR codes, RFID tags, and NFC technology, empower end-users to authenticate products. Furthermore, some firms are rolling out digital platforms that utilize unique identifiers or digital certificates for product verification, seamlessly integrating with existing supply chain systems for enhanced user experience.
Authentication And Brand Protection Market Trends
Pharmaceuticals is Expected to Have the Significant Market Share
- In the pharmaceutical realm, safeguarding brand integrity is paramount. Counterfeit drugs, which may contain incorrect dosages, harmful ingredients, or lack active components entirely, pose grave health risks. Such threats not only jeopardize public health but also erode trust in both pharmaceutical brands and the broader healthcare system. In 2024, the Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI) reported that law enforcement across 142 countries identified 6,897 incidents related to the counterfeiting, illegal diversion, and theft of pharmaceuticals.
- This statistic underscores the global prevalence of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, prompting nations to enact stringent laws against their distribution. For instance, the EU's Falsified Medicines Directive mandates unique identifiers and anti-tampering devices on all prescription medications. Echoing this, South Korea requires all distributed drugs to bear a KD code, complemented by a barcode or RFID tag containing the KD information.
- Manufacturers are now harnessing cloud-based tracking and advanced encryption technologies, enabling them to monitor products from collection to consumption. This real-time tracking not only bolsters product protection but also allows manufacturers to identify and fortify weak links in their supply chains. Such vigilance ensures patient safety by revealing unauthorized product journeys and interventions, empowering manufacturers to address and report any unlawful activities.
- Furthermore, pharmaceutical companies are turning to AI to bolster brand protection efforts. AI's ability of data analysis and pattern recognition is instrumental in forecasting and thwarting pharmaceutical counterfeiting. Through predictive analytics, AI can sift through extensive datasets, pinpointing irregularities tied to counterfeit drugs. By identifying minute discrepancies in manufacturing, distribution, and packaging, AI highlights potential vulnerabilities to counterfeiting.
- AI also provides real-time monitoring of the pharmaceutical supply chain. With AI-driven tools, companies can trace drug movements from production to pharmacies. This immediacy allows for quick identification of anomalies—be it unexpected halts or route deviations—granting companies a chance to authenticate products before they reach consumers.

North America is Expected to have the Major Market Share
- North America faces a significant challenge with counterfeit products. In 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over 23 million products that violated intellectual property rights, with an estimated value exceeding USD 2.7 billion. These seized items included counterfeit handbags, Nike sneakers, Rolex watches, makeup, and pharmaceuticals. The increasing prevalence of counterfeit goods has prompted manufacturers across various industries to adopt advanced technologies such as digital tools, forensic methods, AI, and blockchain to mitigate the distribution of fake products.
- Additionally, the implementation of stringent regulations across the region has supported market growth. For example, the FDA's Drug Supply Chain Security Act and the Food Safety Modernization Act require sophisticated tracking and authentication systems for pharmaceuticals and food products. These regulatory frameworks have driven companies to invest heavily in anti-counterfeit technologies, including RFID tags, security holograms, and blockchain-based tracing systems.
- In alignment with global trends, the adoption of advanced technologies like blockchain and AI is revolutionizing authentication and brand protection. Blockchain technology ensures secure and transparent product tracking across the supply chain, while AI-powered systems identify subtle packaging discrepancies that may indicate counterfeiting. For instance, Walmart utilizes blockchain to monitor food products, and Amazon employs machine learning algorithms to detect counterfeit listings. These technological advancements, coupled with growing consumer awareness regarding product authenticity, are shaping the evolution of the regional market.
- Leading companies such as Nike, Inc. and Apple Inc. have encountered significant challenges with counterfeit products, prompting substantial investments in advanced packaging solutions to enhance brand protection. These companies have incorporated hidden codes and unique textures into their packaging to facilitate the tracking of genuine products throughout the supply chain. Furthermore, the presence of prominent technology firms and packaging innovators in the region strengthens its competitive position in the global market. Companies like 3M and DuPont have developed innovative anti-counterfeit solutions, including color-shifting films, microscopic taggants, and blockchain-based tracking systems.
- In conclusion, the regional market is expected to maintain its growth trajectory, driven by the rising distribution of counterfeit for consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The increasing adoption of digital authentication and packaging technologies, combined with the integration of AI and blockchain for product lifecycle tracking, continues to propel the market forward.

Authentication And Brand Protection Industry Overview
The Authentication and Brand Protection Market is semi-consolidated driven by the presence of major players. Key players like Authentix, AlpVision SA, De La Rue plc, Honeywell International Inc., and Avery Dennison Corporation dominate the market, which is characterized by mild consolidation. These prominent firms primarily focus on product launches and developments, followed by strategies like expansions, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, agreements, partnerships, and collaborations to bolster their market share. To strengthen their foothold in this competitive landscape, these companies employ diverse techniques for enhanced market penetration.
Furthermore, players in the market are harnessing technologies like blockchain and AI to adeptly tackle counterfeiting and infringement challenges. The landscape is witnessing disruptions, with startups utilizing AI and blockchain to craft solutions that digitalize brand protection and authentication. These startups are not just innovating but are also securing capital to fuel their growth.
Authentication And Brand Protection Market Leaders
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Authentix.
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AlpVision SA
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De La Rue plc
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Honeywell International Inc.
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Avery Dennison Corporation.
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Authentication And Brand Protection Market News
- October 2024: Digimarc Corporation, a provider of digital watermarking technologies, has announced the launch of its Digimarc Validate mobile application. This solution is designed to support businesses in addressing counterfeit product challenges. The application provides field agents with an effective and cost-efficient tool for instant product authentication, enhancing customer trust, protecting revenue streams, and preserving brand value. Powered by Digimarc’s proprietary digital watermark technology, the Digimarc Validate app offers a discreet and scalable security layer that integrates seamlessly into product packaging. Authorized inspectors can authenticate products efficiently using a smartphone or mobile device, while real-time data is transmitted to the Digimarc Illuminate platform. This platform delivers actionable insights and analytics across the global supply chain, enabling data-driven brand protection strategies. The product launch strengthens Digimarc's portfolio in digital authentication and further enhan
- July 2024: Authentix, a provider of authentication solutions, has finalized an Asset Purchase Agreement with Nanotech Security Corp. (NSC), a subsidiary of Meta Materials Inc. Through this deal, Authentix acquires key assets from NSC's authentication division, targeting markets like banknote authentication and brand protection. These solutions cater to central banks, governments, and commercial brand owners. This strategic move not only broadens Authentix's portfolio in the banknote and brand protection sectors but also enhances its existing lines, such as high-security printing, bolstering growth across its authentication services for central banks, governments, and commercial entities.
Authentication And Brand Protection Industry Segmentation
Authentication and brand protection encompass a range of technologies and strategies aimed at verifying product authenticity End users are increasingly adopting pay-as-you-go and subscription models. Vendors in these sectors often forge long-term partnerships with their clients, leading to revenue generation through sales.
The authentication and brand protection market is segmented by mode (smartphone authentication and blockchain authentication), by type (overt, covert, forensic, and digital), by technology type (security labels & ink, holograms, barcodes, RFID, QR codes, invisible ink and graphics, and microprinting), by application (pharmaceuticals, retail and e-commerce, BFSI, consumer electronics, manufacturing, government, and others (building and construction, luxury goods etc), by geography (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa). The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD) for all the above segments.
By Mode | Smartphone Authentication |
Blockchain Authentication | |
By Type | Overt |
Covert | |
Forensic | |
Digital | |
By Technology Type | Security labels & Ink |
Holograms | |
Barcodes | |
RFID | |
QR Codes | |
Invisible Ink and Graphics | |
Microprinting | |
By Application | Pharmaceuticals |
Retail and E-commerce | |
BFSI | |
Consumer Electronics | |
Manufacturing | |
Government | |
Others (Building and construction, Luxury Goods etc) | |
By Geography*** | North America |
Europe | |
Asia | |
Australia and New Zealand | |
Latin America | |
Middle East & Africa |
Authentication And Brand Protection Market Research FAQs
How big is the Authentication And Brand Protection Market?
The Authentication And Brand Protection Market size is expected to reach USD 3.72 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 11.18% to reach USD 6.32 billion by 2030.
What is the current Authentication And Brand Protection Market size?
In 2025, the Authentication And Brand Protection Market size is expected to reach USD 3.72 billion.
Who are the key players in Authentication And Brand Protection Market?
Authentix., AlpVision SA, De La Rue plc, Honeywell International Inc. and Avery Dennison Corporation. are the major companies operating in the Authentication And Brand Protection Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Authentication And Brand Protection Market?
Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2025-2030).
Which region has the biggest share in Authentication And Brand Protection Market?
In 2025, the North America accounts for the largest market share in Authentication And Brand Protection Market.
What years does this Authentication And Brand Protection Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Authentication And Brand Protection Market size was estimated at USD 3.30 billion. The report covers the Authentication And Brand Protection Market historical market size for years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Authentication And Brand Protection Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
Authentication And Brand Protection Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Authentication And Brand Protection market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Authentication And Brand Protection analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.