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Anti-Counterfeiting

Semiconductors are the “brains” inside critically-important electronic systems, including healthcare and medical equipment, electric power grids, communications systems, automotive braking and airbag systems, and aviation systems. Because semiconductors control the performance of these and other vital electronics, counterfeit semiconductor components create significant implications for national critical infrastructure and the safety, security and health of communities and the end consumers. Beyond this, there is an obvious damage to semiconductor rights owners and distribution chains with effects on the wider economy.

The Anti-Counterfeiting Committee works to promote anti-counterfeiting activities that combat semiconductor counterfeits and the risks associated with their proliferation in the global market. It does this through cooperation with authorities, customs trainings, raising awareness of the counterfeit problem, sharing anti-counterfeit company practices and encouraging purchases from authorized sources.

The Anti-Counterfeiting Committee works closely with the European Commission partners and Member State authorities on policies and enforcement activities. ESIA has partnerships within the EU with OLAF (EU’s Anti-Fraud Office), DG TAXUD and the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights. Experts also coordinate trainings with member state customs authorities’ officials to assist them on the identification of potentially counterfeit semiconductors. Such enhanced anti-counterfeiting cooperation activities at the industry level alongside government agencies, customs and law enforcement agencies is instrumental to identify and stop parties involved in manufacturing and trafficking in counterfeit goods. ESIA also works within the context of the World Semiconductor Council and its Anti-counterfeiting Task Force to further cooperate globally on this issue. ESIA founded this Task Force and chaired this task force again in 2019.

Conservative industry assessments estimate that the amount of counterfeit products being produced and sold into the semiconductor market is at least 1% of overall global market. As shown by the 2019 OECD-EU IPO published report Trends in Trade in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods, counterfeit and pirated goods amounted to as much as 3.3% of world trade, and up to 6.8% of EU imports from third countries in 2016.

Europol and EU IPO in their Joint 2019 Intellectual Property Crime Threat Assessment have identified semiconductor devices as a key product sector within electronics that is subject to counterfeiting. The assessment published in June 2019 refers to the high number of semiconductor detentions of counterfeit semiconductor devices, imported into the EU from China and Hong Kong by postal and express courier services in 2017.

Chair

Martin Robl - Infineon Technologies


June 2023: The WSC supports World Anti-Counterfeiting Day 2023

June 2022: The WSC supports World Anti-Counterfeiting Day 2022

March 2022: EUIPO / EUROPOL Report: Intellectual Property Crime Threat Assessment 2022

June 2021: EUIPO Report on EU Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights: Overall Results of Detentions, 2019

June 2021: The WSC supports World Anti-Counterfeiting Day 2021

June 2021: WSC Paper on Counterfeit Semiconductors and the Online Environment

May 2021: Council Conclusions setting the EU’s priorities for the fight against serious and organised crime for EMPACT 2022 – 2025

November 2020: Commission Communication on Making the most of the EU’s innovative potential: An intellectual property action plan to support the EU’s recovery and resilience

June 2020: The WSC supports World Anti-Counterfeiting Day 2020

March 2020: OECD / EUIPO Report on Illicit Trade – Trade in Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Products

January 2020: Commission Staff Working Document: Report on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in third countries

September 2019: EUIPO Report on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights: Results at EU Borders and in Member States 2013-2017

September 2019: Commission Report on the EU customs enforcement of intellectual property rights: Results at the EU border, 2018

June 2019: EUIPO / EUROPOL Report: Intellectual Property Crime Threat Assessment 2019

June 2019: The WSC supports World Anti-Counterfeiting Day 2019

June 2019: EUIPO 2019 Status Report on IPR Infringement

March 2019: OECD / EUIPO Report on Illicit Trade – Trends in Trade in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods

December 2018: OECD / EUIPO Report on the Misuse of Small Parcels for Trade in Counterfeit Goods Facts and Trends

August 2018: EUIPO Presentation on the Enforcement Database (EDB)

June 2018: The WSC supports World Anti-counterfeiting Day 2018

May 2018: Updated WSC Presentation on Addressing Counterfeit Semiconductor Products

May 2018: Updated WSC White Paper on Winning the Battle Against Counterfeit Semiconductor Products

November 2017: Commission Communication for A Balanced IP Enforcement System

July 2017: ESIA Press Release on the Joint Customs Operation “WAFERS

July 2017: OLAF Press Release on the Joint Customs Operation “WAFERS

June 2017: OECD / EUIPO Report on Mapping the Real Routes of Trade in Fake Goods

June 2017: The WSC supports World Anti-counterfeiting Day 2017

June 2016: The WSC supports World Anti-counterfeiting Day 2016

June 2015: The WSC supports World Anti-counterfeiting Day 2015

May 2014: WSC White Paper on Winning the Battle Against Counterfeit Semiconductor Products

May 2014: WSC Presentation on Addressing Counterfeit Semiconductor Products

June 2011: ESIA Steps to file for your application for action (AfA) in the EU

March 2011: ESIA Semiconductor counterfeit alert

May 2008: ESIA’s Anti-Counterfeiting Statement