Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) applauds anticounterfeiting action

SAN JOSE, USA: The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) applauded the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia’s announcement of arrests and indictments involving counterfeit semiconductors.

“Semiconductor counterfeiting is fraud, pure and simple,” said SIA President George Scalise. “Today'’s law enforcement actions should send a clear message to those who traffic in counterfeit semiconductors that this illegal activity will not be tolerated. The SIA will work with governments around the world to ensure the integrity of semiconductor markets. Electronic equipment manufacturers can also combat counterfeiting by purchasing semiconductors only from trusted sources,” Scalise added.

SIA formed an Anticounterfeiting Task Force in 2006 to address the growing problem of semiconductor counterfeiting. The Task Force’s work with U.S. Customs and Border Protection led to the seizure of 780,000 counterfeit semiconductors in two operations in 2007 and 2008.

Task Force assistance with law enforcement officials to arrest suspected traffickers in counterfeit semiconductors opens a new front on the war against counterfeits.

Last week’'s action involved Immigration Customs Enforcement, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Internal Revenue Service as well as the Department of Justice. If convicted, the defendants in the case could face a likely sentence of 63-78 months in prison, as well as forfeiture and restitution.

“A thousand-dollar electronic system can fail due to an unreliable counterfeit one-dollar part, leaving the systems manufacturer or consumer with an expensive loss,” Scalise concluded.

“Semiconductor applications where unreliable devices can also have serious safety implications include medical instruments, automotive and aircraft parts, and public infrastructure such as first responders’ radio communications.”