Chasing the Perfect Fake
In the anime convention circuit, there is a persistent problem with bootleg merchandise. Some things are obvious, like the cheap knockoff figurines, messenger bags, wall scrolls, etc. produced in bulk in China. Others, such as fan art, are something of a gray area, especially when they are individually handmade. But a number of the important studios are concerned enough to send people around to examine the merchandise of all vendors at major anime shows, and some vendors have even been expelled and banned from shows for having bootleg merchandise.
In the fine art world, the stakes are even higher. While a bootleg Pokemon plushie may sell for ten bucks, a forged Rembrant or Van Gogh can easily go for millions. As a result, a high-tech arms race has developed between the forgers and the specialists who detect forgeries. Catching a fake can involve spectrographic analysis of minute particles of a painting to detect synthetic pigments that weren't available during the time the supposed artist was active. Meanwhile, the forgers become ever more sophisticated in their efforts to use authentic materials and thus avoid detection.
In the fine art world, the stakes are even higher. While a bootleg Pokemon plushie may sell for ten bucks, a forged Rembrant or Van Gogh can easily go for millions. As a result, a high-tech arms race has developed between the forgers and the specialists who detect forgeries. Catching a fake can involve spectrographic analysis of minute particles of a painting to detect synthetic pigments that weren't available during the time the supposed artist was active. Meanwhile, the forgers become ever more sophisticated in their efforts to use authentic materials and thus avoid detection.