DSS taps former NFL star to promote brand protection

Document Security Systems (DSS) sees big potential for its authentication technology in the sports and entertainment market, and has turned to American football icon Pat McInally to spread the word.

McInally - who played for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals between 1976 and 1985 and is a syndicated sports columnist - will represent DSS as it rolls out its AuthentiSuite technology platform in the sports merchandise and entertainment market.

The Harvard-educated NFL star has plenty of experience in the merchandise sector, coming up with the Starting Lineup series of action figures in the mid-1980s which sold right through to the early 2000s.

DSS believes its AuthentiSuite platform can be an effective tool to fight the proliferation of counterfeit merchandise and tickets that is costing industry millions of dollars and damaging brand integrity with consumers.

"Mr. McInally has personal exposure to the issues of counterfeit branded merchandise," commented DSS' chief executive Jeff Ronaldi. "He will apply this knowledge to introduce and position DSS' technologies and solutions to these industries."

DSS reported its fourth quarter financial results earlier this month, recording full-year 2013 sales of $17.5m, up 2 per cent on the prior year, and a $2.6m net loss. The company ended the year with cash reserves of around $2.5m.