DNA Technologies was founded in 1993 by Charles L. Butland in Los Angeles, California. The company was first conceived as an art authentication system for our inaugural customer, Joe Barbera, of Hanna-Barbera fame, and was initially named Art Guard International. Shortly afterwards, the O.J. Simpson trial helped introduce the term “DNA evidence” into common parlance and the marketing value of Charlie’s invention became apparent as the company was renamed DNA Technologies, Inc.The company was most recently acquired by Wendell Smith, a long time partner of DNA Technologies, and merged with PhotoSecure of Boston, Massachusetts. PhotoSecure, an innovative start up company, spun out of the Photonics Center of Boston University, had pioneered the use of unique photoluminescent dyes as security identifiers, and had been a long time collaborator.