How to Distinguish Between Genuine Magewell Products and Knockoffs
Magewell pays close attention to protecting its own intellectual property through a combination of patents, trademarks and copyright to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of itself and consumers. However, there are still a large number of knockoffs on the market, which have tangible problems with build quality, compatibility, or stability. This article describes ways in which consumers and professional users can distinguish between these knockoffs and genuine Magewell products.
Knockoff Type 1 (PCIe cards)：
The serial numbers on the knockoff cards typically begin with "MM" and there is a "date mark" sticker on the card. This card infringes Magewell's firmware and driver software copyrights, as well as the appearance design patent of Magewell's First Generation cards (which had model names beginning with "XI"). These cards are often falsely advertised as "Magewell products" or "OEM products of Magewell".
How to identify：Check the serial number closely, and look for the QC sticker that appears on legitimate Magewell cards. If you are uncertain, before purchasing these cards, ask the seller to provide proof of their Magewell dealer authorization.
Knockoff Type 2 (USB capture devices)：
These knockoff devices do not have the Magewell name, logo or trademark on them, and also do not display CE or FCC certifications on the back of the housing. They also do not show a serial number. The appearance of these knockoffs is extremely similar to the genuine products, which infringes Magewell’s appearance design patent. They are often falsely advertised as "Magewell products" or "OEM products of Magewell".
How to identify：All genuine Magewell USB Capture dongles have CE and FCC marks plus the serial number on the back. If any of the three is missing, the product is not genuine.
Knockoff Type 3 (USB capture devices)：
These knockoff devices do not have the Magewell name, logo or trademark on them. Their appearance is very similar to genuine Magewell USB Capture devices, which infringes on Magewell's appearance design patent. They may be falsely advertised as "Magewell products" or the promotional pictures may mislead customers to believe they are Magewell products.
How to identify：The Magewell trademark is printed on genuine Magewell capture products. If it there is no Magewell branding, it is not a genuine product.
Knockoff Type 4 (USB capture box)：
These knockoff devices do not have the Magewell name, logo or trademark on them, or they may use a sticker for markings rather than screened printing. The knockoff USB boxes infringe Magewell's software copyright and appearance design patent. They may be falsely sold as "Magewell products" or the promotional pictures may mislead customers to believe they are Magewell products.
How to identify：The Magewell trademark is printed directly on the white chassis of genuine Magewell USB capture boxes. If there is no Magewell branding or there is sticker-based labelling, it is not a genuine product.
Knockoff Type 5 (quad-channel PCIe HDMI capture cards)：
These knockoff four-channel HDMI capture cards infringe on Magewell's firmware and driver software copyrights as well as the appearance design patent of Magewell First Generation cards. The infringers may make certain changes to the color of the product and claim that they own the patent rights, and they often mention Magewell in their marketing, creating a false impression of cooperation with Magewell.
How to identify：Magewell First Generation capture cards have now been discontinued and replaced by second-generation products, which improve product performance to meet customers' needs. If you encounter a reseller who is claiming to sell first-generation Magewell capture cards, please ask the seller to provide proof of their Magewell dealer authorization.
Knockoff Type 6：(quad-channel PCIe SDI capture cards)：
These knockoff four-channel SDI capture cards infringe on Magewell's firmware and driver software copyrights as well as the appearance design patent of Magewell First Generation cards. The infringers may make certain changes to the color of the product and claim that they own the patent rights, and they often mention Magewell in their marketing, creating a false impression of cooperation with Magewell.
How to identify：Magewell First Generation capture cards have now been discontinued and replaced by second-generation products, which improve product performance to meet customers' needs. If you encounter a reseller who is claiming to sell first-generation Magewell capture cards, please ask the seller to provide proof of their Magewell dealer authorization.
The Genuine Advantage
The market price of Magewell’s authentic video capture devices may be higher than that of general consumer electronics because they are designed and built to meet the rigorous requirements of professional use. The knockoff products currently on the market generally offer low prices as a gimmick, but their performance, reliability, compatibility, and driver/firmware upgradeability cannot be guaranteed.
Magewell has received feedback from some customers who said they were tricked into buying knockoff products, which seriously affected the stability, performance, and efficient implementation of their projects. In view of this, Magewell appeals to industry professionals and consumers to only purchase from official Magewell channel partners, to ensure that the products are genuine and that they enjoy a high-quality product experience and after-sales service.