SAP and Nokia set up anti-piracy company

Original1 will provide a one-stop shop for anti-counterfeiting services

SAP has joined forces with Nokia to form a new company called Original1 that will provide product authentication and anti-counterfeiting services.

The vendors said that the new entity will rely on SAP technology and solutions, while Nokia will deliver mobile authentication software to allow businesses to track a product's entire lifecycle using mobile devices, from the factory to the end user.

The benefits to customers are that products will be protected and the quality of brand names maintained, the pair said.

Nokia and SAP will both hold a 40 per cent share of the new company, while a third partner, a German firm called Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), will hold the remaining 20 per cent.

G&D's contribution to Original1 will be to provide security solutions to encrypt the tracking process and the databases involved.

Original1 will begin operations in 2009, if regulators approve the deal, and will be based in Germany. It will be headed up by the current vice president of SAP Research, Claudia Alsdorf.

"Today, more than ever, companies need to combat counterfeiting before it's too late, when their company livelihood is at stake," said Alsdorf.

"Original1 will provide a one-stop shop for companies seeking secure services that protect them from counterfeiting, safeguard the value of their brands, and help them develop a more transparent way of working to become more sustainable. "

SAP made the announcement at SAP TechEd 09, a customer event being held in Vienna over the next few days. The software firm also extended its commitment to the 1.8 million developers who form its Community Network to help them produce products that complement SAP software and services.

SAP launched a 'code exchange' to allow developers to share innovations around the company's code. Individual developers will soon be given the ability to acquire developer licences for SAP NetWeaver free of charge, the company said, in an effort to make the NetWeaver platform more accessible for ongoing development.

The company has also published guidelines on its web site for how best to build applications that integrate with the SAP Business Suite.

Finally at the customer event, SAP unveiled the accelerated version of its Business Objects Explorer.