Issue 8, March 2009

Claims of "VEMCO Compatible" Tags Threaten Current Research Projects with Risk of ID Duplication

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and although some companies are trying to duplicate the VEMCO coding technique, we are far from flattered. This practice is irresponsible.

It goes without saying that having more than one acoustic tag in the water transmitting the same ID code will jeopardize the integrity of the studies being conducted. Until recently, acoustic telemetry equipment suppliers have all used their own proprietary technology and coding techniques and, to our knowledge, there is no issue with using different technologies in the same jurisdiction. Clearly, each scientist needs to choose the acoustic technology (and therefore supplier) that will enable them to best achieve their study objectives.

However, we have learned that some suppliers claim to have reverse engineered the VEMCO coding technique and are offering "VEMCO compatible" tags that will allegedly transmit codes that can be picked up by VEMCO receivers. We want to make it clear that these suppliers are not working with VEMCO. Moreover, the VEMCO acoustic telemetry technology is a transmitter/receiver/coding system designed to work optimally as a whole. It is far more complex than simply replicating a ping sequence in a tag. Customers would be unaware that they may be buying equipment that is not fully compatible.

Although reverse engineering is not necessarily an illegal practice, depending on the means by which the information was obtained, it is a questionable one. In this case, it has ignored the most important aspect of the research being conducted - knowing with 100% certainty that the animal being tagged carries a unique ID code, one that will be reliably detected once released.

We have spent many years and extensive resources developing our unique coded acoustic telemetry technology and our coded tag database management system. We meticulously keep track of codes, coding parameters, deployment locations and tag life so that tag IDs can be re-used when required without risk of duplicating IDs. It is a complex database requiring daily management which we take very seriously. We understand that proper maintenance of this system plays a significant role in the integrity of our customer's research. The VEMCO code database is equally as important as our coding technique.

As these suppliers have no way of knowing whether the "VEMCO compatible" codes they are selling are currently in use by VEMCO customers, we can say with a high degree of certainty that any codes these suppliers have deployed are duplicates. We sell equipment to thousands of researchers worldwide and not all are related to marine biology. There are also an increasing number of animals being tagged that travel vast distances, even across oceans. As owners of the VEMCO coded database management system, only we are in a position to know which tag IDs have been deployed and where.

Another reality is that current VEMCO unique IDs will run out in about two years which has necessitated the development of new coding techniques and a new Worldwide Code Map. (Please see our related article "VEMCO Evolves Technology: Staying Ahead of Global Demand".) Knowing that VEMCO unique IDs are limited in quantity further exacerbates the risk of other manufacturers putting duplicate tags in the water.

We believe that whichever company you choose to buy your acoustic technology from is your choice and should be based on your study goals and objectives. However, we do advise that you not jeopardize your study or the studies of other scientists by believing other manufacturers' claims that they have successfully duplicated our technology.