http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/25/06/2012/53972/sia-applauds-anti-counterfeit-bill.htm
David Manners
Monday 25 June 2012 12:40
The US has initiated legislation to stop the import of counterfeit ICs into the country.
“For years, counterfeiters have used crude techniques to turn old electronic
components into counterfeit semiconductor chips,” says Brian Toohey, CEO of the SIA, “dangerous counterfeits are re-labelled for sale to international brokers and can end up in a wide range of technologies, including automotive brake systems, medical devices such as defibrillators, and military equipment such as missiles, navigation systems and jets. Counterfeit semiconductors are a ticking time bomb and pose serious risks to our armed forces personnel, citizens, critical infrastructure and military operations across the United States and the world.”
“In the past, SIA member companies worked with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to intercept counterfeit semiconductors at U.S. ports of entry,” adds Toohey, “CBP would send the semiconductor company associated with the trademark photographs of suspected counterfeits, and the company’s technical experts would expeditiously help determine whether the products in question were legitimate or counterfeit. This process was highly effective. Unfortunately, in 2008 CBP instituted a policy that restricted semiconductor companies’ access to such photographs of identifying information on suspect counterfeit chips, making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for CBP or industry representatives to stop counterfeit semiconductors before they enter the U.S.”
“The legislation introduced yesterday would reverse the CBP policy and allow semiconductor companies to receive photographs that show identifying information on suspected counterfeit chips to determine their authenticity,” continues Toohey, “this legislation would allow CBP and industry to resume working together in order to halt and seize suspected counterfeit semiconductors before they enter the U.S. supply chains.”
“SIA applauds the strong bipartisan support for this bill and similar initiatives in both the House and Senate,” concludes Toohey, “regardless of the legislative vehicle, these common sense proposals urgently need to be enacted to stop dangerous counterfeits at the border.”