U.S., China, Korea, EU, & Other Customs Officials Discuss Trade in Counterfeit Semiconductors

For the first time, customs and trade officials from the six major semiconductor producing regions (China, Chinese Taipei, the European Union, Japan, Korea and the U.S.) met to discuss problems posed by trade in counterfeit semiconductor products.

The parties met in Korea from September 21-22, 2009, before the launch of the annual Governments/Authorities Meeting on Semiconductors (GAMS).

Counterfeit Problem Increasing as Semiconductors Used in Critical Technologies

The parties state that counterfeiting of semiconductors poses an increasing threat, not only in economic terms for the companies whose products are counterfeited, but also to the operation of critical technologies. This is because semiconductors are increasingly a core technology used in products ranging from mobile phones and car-braking systems to medical devices and satellites.

Regions Discussed Joint Actions, How to Spot Counterfeits, Etc.

They shared their experiences and best practices in their fight against counterfeit semiconductors, from both import and export customs control perspectives. They discussed joint actions between governments and increasing joint government-industry cooperation. They also discussed the central role of customs, anti-counterfeiting toolkits, and how to physically and electronically spot semiconductor counterfeits.

Agreed to Take Enforcement Measures, Share Information

The six regions reaffirmed their commitment to protect and enforce intellectual property rights. They also agreed to undertake, as appropriate, enforcement measures against semiconductor counterfeiting, to keep other members informed and to report back on their activities to the 2011 GAMS meeting.

Having More Info from Industry Would Help Identify Counterfeits

Finally, the participants underlined the importance of having access to information from the semiconductor industry on products and processes to facilitate identification of suspected counterfeit products.

(The worldwide semiconductor industry was valued at around $250 billion in 2008.)

(See ITT's Online Archives or 02/27/08 news, 08022725, for BP summary of a U.S.-European Union joint IPR enforcement operation on computer counterfeits.)

Joint Report from anti-counterfeiting workshop (dated 09/22/09) available at http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2009/september/tradoc_144913.pdf

USTR, Commerce Dept., CBP joint statement (dated 09/24/09) available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/september/joint-statement-ustr-us-commerce-department-and-

CBP press release (dated 09/23/09) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/09232009.xml