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Internet & eBay fraud warning


ILDA does not manufacture or sell equipment. You should therefore beware of potential Internet/eBay misuse or fraud regarding "ILDA" or "FDA" projectors.

• If you see laser show equipment which says it is "ILDA compatible", be wary. Some mislabeled equipment will use the same connector, but will have different, incompatible pin assignments or signal levels (such as the projector at right).

• If you see the ILDA logo being used to sell equipment, this is incorrect. ILDA does not approve or certify equipment.

• If you see "ILDALASER" equipment on the Internet or eBay, this is fraudulent trademark infringement. The equipment has nothing to do with ILDA. Because of the trademark infringement, we do not recommend that you purchase from this company.

• If you see "FDA", "FDA Certified" or "FDA Accession number" you should be cautious. The projector may not have permission from the FDA to be sold, even if the eBay ad says or implies it does. See the FDA section below for details.

• If you are an eBay seller, and you receive a check from "ILDA", this may be part of an online scam. See the ILDA check eBay scam section below for details.

"ILDA compatible"?

The International Laser Display Association has developed a set of technical standards that allow controllers such as computers to talk to laser projectors. The connector used for this is a DB-25. These were commonly used on IBM PC-type computers for parallel ports; they have 25 holes (pictured above) or pins.

• Just because a laser projector or controller has a DB-25 connector does not mean that it is ILDA compatible. The pin assignments and signals also must conform with the ILDA technical standards. In addition, an "ILDA Standard Projector" also has requirements for scanner tuning speed (how well the scanners can show a test pattern) and optional requirements for DMX effects control.

• If you are considering purchasing laser equipment with an "ILDA connector", be sure that the manufacturer guarantees that it conforms to ALL of the ILDA DB-25 specifications, including the pins and signals. These specifications are available for free to ILDA members, in the Members-Only section. Non-members can purchase them by contacting ILDA; the price is $50 for a set of all standards.
   

ILDA logo is not for equipment

The ILDA logo is a trademark which is reserved for use of the International Laser Display Association. We do allow members to use the logo in approved ways to indicate their membership in ILDA.

However, the ILDA logo should never be used with equipment, to state or imply that the equipment meets ILDA's technical standards. If you see the ILDA logo being used to sell equipment, this is trademark infringement and we'd appreciate it if you would let us know.
 

Fraud and trademark infringement

We have seen fraudulent ILDA logos being used. The one at right is an example.

Also, the name "ILDA" is a trademark. It should not be used for company or product names.

As of spring 2006, there is a company selling lasers and equipment using the names "ILDALASER" and "MYILDA". These products have nothing to do with ILDA. Obviously, we cannot recommend that you buy from companies that are blatantly trading on ILDA's 20-year reputation as the industry's leading trade association.
 

"FDA" certification: Really?

This section is for U.S. buyers of lasers and projectors, that have an output power of 5 milliwatts and above.

Some eBay sellers state or imply their laser projectors are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). One company even puts the FDA logo on the laser projector. However, the logo should not be on the projector. This is because the FDA does not "approve" projectors.

The FDA requires all laser products to be certified by the manufacturers, stating that the laser product meets FDA requirements. For laser products 5 mW and above that are used for demonstrations, shows or displays, the FDA additionally requires a "variance" application, stating that there are additional safety features for this use. When submitting these reports, the FDA assigns an "accession" or case number to keep track of the submission progress.

Any legitimate manufacturer or importer with a variance will have a valid accession number from the FDA. Ask for this number -- the projector is not legal without it. Some eBay sellers will give you a random series of digits, such as "5674930" but this may not be valid. If you are not sure, ask to get a copy of the paperwork (variance approval letter from the FDA and perhaps a page or two of the Laser Product Report), or contact ILDA.

Some eBay sellers will try to get around the FDA regulations, either by selling you the parts to make a projector, or by stating that the lasers inside the projector are certified. This is a potentially illegal practice because it shifts full responsibility to you. If you assemble or make a projector -- even one -- you are a laser show manufacturer according to the FDA. It is then your responsibility to apply for 1) the Laser Product Report and 2) a variance, if the projector is 5 mW or greater, and is used for demonstrations, displays or shows. Trust us, this is very complex and most consumers or even hobbyists would not want to go to this trouble.

In addition, the way you use the laser requires a separate variance. That is, you need a variance for the equipment (projector) and a separate variance for how it is used (the laser show or demonstration). You will need to submit all four documents (Laser Product Report & projector variance; Laser Show Product Report & show variance) and have them approved before you can legally do any type of public laser show or demonstration (e.g., outside your home).

You can see why it is far better to purchase a laser projector which has been truly FDA approved as a fully-functioning, complete projector. The presence of an "FDA" logo, or giving you some digits of a claimed accession number may not be sufficient. Again, check with ILDA if you are unsure.
 

ILDA Members are required to disclose compliance

ILDA's Code of Business Practice requires our Members to fully disclose "the status of the product's compliance with laser safety standards". Also, "the seller should clearly state whether the product may require the buyer or end user to obtain permits, variances or similar legal approval." If you feel an ILDA Member is not living up to this, please contact us. 

"ILDA check" eBay scam

In mid-May 2006, ILDA received three calls from people selling items on eBay. These sellers had checks from a buyer claiming to be in Georgia; the checks included ILDA's name. One check was for $25,000.

At this time, ILDA has not purchased any items on eBay. Therefore, these "ILDA" checks are likely to be fraudulent. In one case, the buyer overpaid for the items and asked for the overpayment amount to be returned to them. Of course, the original "ILDA" check will bounce and the buyer will have both the eBay item and the overpayment. This is a known scam.

If you are an eBay seller and have received such a check, do not cash the check and do not send your item. Contact eBay to report the buyer. If you wish, call our office at 407-797-7654 to confirm that we did not send the check.