HARDWARE & SECURITY
The key is patent protection The only way to validate whether a cylinder system is safe from key copying is if it is subject to a current patent . When choosing one to supply , therefore , it is crucial to understand what the manufacturer ’ s key copy protection claims are , as well as their process for managing this .
Ensuring that the basis of their protection is a valid patent , and that this has not expired ( patents can last up to 20 years from filing ). It is also important to verify that the patent is valid in the country where the product will be used . Only when you have established these points will you be in a position to choose a system that provides the security that the project needs .
Here at UNION , we have recently launched our new premium and comprehensive master key cylinder range , keyMASTER , which delivers a long-lasting patent life for maximum protection against key copying until 2036 .
Above all , remember that the only true protection against key copying is patent protection . As such , claims around socalled ‘ trademark ’ protection are often misleading and should be disregarded . Only when this point is widely understood will we be able to truly tackle the issue of key copying – and in the process make our buildings as secure as they need to be .
To find out more about the new keyMASTER range or read the new Key copy protection report from UNION , visit https :// www . uniononline . co . uk / uk / en
NOV / DEC 2022
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