Picture #1 shows difference in lengths - shorter one is the COUNTERFEIT item.

Picture #2 shows the difference in  COUNTERFEIT booklet that came in mine with PRODUCT CODE 042365 (this is NOT AN AUTHENTIC BOSE CODE).  The other 2 booklets are the ones that came with my AUTHENTIC IN-EAR PHONES  THAT WERE REGISTERED WITH BOSE. 

Picture #3 shows the box that 042365 came in & what it looks like front/back in Pix #4 along with the "Bubbled" & sealed container that housed both of my AUTHENTIC BOSE.

Pictures 5 & 6 are TRYING (but not working too well) to pick up the SLIGHT difference in the GREY MESH AREA INSIDE THE SILVER CIRCLE:  the COUNTERFEIT item has a LINED MESH APPEARANCE; the AUTHENTIC items were more JUST MESH LOOKING. Additionally, the AUTHENTIC earphones will have a 4 digit number imprinted LENGTHWISE on the "tube" part of the earphone that ends with a tiny mesh cover & tiny hole (covered by the rubber ear tips on the LEFT earphone only); the counterfeit version (mine, anyway) had the 4-digit number printed ACROSS the bowl that sit in one's ear and not down the "tube". The slanted word "BOSE" is EMBOSSED (RAISED) ON THE BACK OF THE EARPIECES, NOT A DECAL (as on the FAKES). 

The COUNTERFEITS  have a relatively good sound - not quite like the AUTHENTIC ones, but not that bad; however, as you can see in the Pix the right one has been repaired because the silver ring fell off after a week or so and I also now have a BUZZ in both speakers -- NOT SO IN THE AUTHENTIC versions. 

Now, let me say this - I have no AGENDA - I just hate that there are sooooo many REPLICAS & COUNTERFEIT items being sold all over the net, in flea markets and on street corners and hate being taken advantage of.  I wouldn't DREAM of trying to sell someone a PHONY item & just don't get why some would want to do this in the name of making money.  I am not a seller of Bose or anything that competes with them.  I'm just a buyer who sometimes sells miscellaneous stuff. 

If you aren't VERY careful purchasing your BOSE IN-EAR HEADPHONES, you're likely to wind up with a pair of ASIAN KNOCK-OFFS.  They will look very similar to the correct item, but you will be in for a BIG surprise when you go to REGISTER them for your WARRANTY.  When you register your BOSE item, you will instantly find out if they are authentic or not; very simply, you will receive a request to "enter a VALID number" - that's when you find out you've been had!  WORDS OF WARNING:  there are numerous pairs of these ASIAN knockoffs being sold on EBAY right now; most of them are in boxes (probably displaying Product Code 042365 & the word TRI-PORT does NOT appear on the packaging TITLE)  and some are also in blister packs.  (I have also noticed that some sellers are turning the packages so you can't see this Product Code # - ASK - and if you get a COUNTERFEIT, REPORT IT TO EBAY - YOU CAN GET YOUR MONEY BACK!)  You should look for BLACK AND WHITE WIRES THAT ARE  50+ INCHES LONG VERSUS 48 INCHES LONG, AN ANGLED PLUG WITH A CIRCUITRY OVAL RIGHT ON THE BLACK/WHITE WIRE (VERSUS AN OBLONG STRAIGHT PLUG),  AN EARPHONE CASE THAT WILL ALSO HOLD AN IPOD (rather than just wrap around - older version or knock-off at best), SILICON EAR PIECES THAT DON'T FALL OFF, A NECK STABILITY LANYARD W/CLOTHING CLIP & A PRICE SOMEWHERE AROUND 90+ at best ... Bose sells these for $99 (and never more than a 10% reduction in price), plus tax and there are NO SHIPPING charges --- and theirs WILL register and carry a warranty! 

Think about it - where do we outsource our production?  China, right?  So who knows better how to replicate these items?!  What seems too good to be true ... usually is.  AND THE NEW EARTIPS being sold; they ARE AVAILABLE to anyone and everyone for FREE directly from BOSE simply by providing your name, address & e-mail (that's where the "SELLERS" are getting them - by providing the info you give them when you win/buy.)

Hope this keeps a few of you out of a lose, lose situation.  I know, I WOUND UP WITH A PAIR OF THE FAKES THAT CAN'T BE REGISTERED OR WARANTEED -  and that Seller had 9 of them, I bought 1 and another buyer bought 8 and within a week sold all 8 of them on Ebay - this is a TRUE story ... learn from MY mistake  ;-). IF YOU DO WIND UP WITH A PAIR OF THESE COUNTERFEIT EARPHONES (AND THEY ARE BEING SOLD ALL OVER THE INTERNET) YOU SHOULD: (1) Report it to BOSE.com (including all info on seller); (2) Report it to Ebay (or any other site purchased from); (3) Report it to your PAYMENT SERVICE; (4) DISPUTE the Credit Card charges on the Credit Card I HOPE YOU USED to pay for your item. If your SELLER will work with you, fine ... just remember there ARE time limits involved ... so don't put up with a run around ... while your seller RUNS!