Other Sources of Information

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Reliable sources of components

The following organisations provide comprehensive free to access information on original component manufacturers,  authorised distributors and / or reliable grey market sources: More

Authorized source directory
On-line guide for finding authorised distributors worldwide for parts that will guarantee their traceability, created by the SIA (Semiconductor Industry Association) Anti-Counterfeit Task Force, Rochester Electronics and semiconductor manufacturers.
http://www.authorizedcomponents.com/

Distributor Directory
On-line directory of authorised distributors in the UK searchable by distributor, component manufacturer and product type.
http://www.cieonline.co.uk/cie3/

ECSN
On-line directory of authorised distributors in the UK searchable by distributor, component manufacturer and product type from ECSN (formerly AFDEC)
http://www.afdec.org.uk/dbase/searches/searchpage.htm

IDEA
Listing of IDEA (Independent Distributors of Electronic Components) members showing Quality certifications and number of IDEA-ICE-3000 certified professional inspectors
http://www.idofea.org/member-status

Intellect
Intellect is currently formulating a series of guidelines for non-franchised distributors to use in order to mitigate the risks of their sourcing counterfeits, which should provide component users with greater assurance when using the grey market to source components.
http://www.intellectuk.org/content/view/4578/453/

Useful Reference Material

The following links provide free-to-access electronic copies of useful material or instructions for ordering material, some of which may be chargeable: More

A practical guide to copyright enforcement for Trading Standards professionals
Publication  the UK Intellectual Property Office - April 2007
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/section107abrochure.pdf
 

Annual IP Crime Report 2009-10
Report  Intellectual Property Office, UK - 29 July 2010
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ipcreport09.pdf
 

Authorized source directory
Publication  the SIA (Semiconductor Industry Association) Anti-Counterfeit Task Force
http://www.orgalime.org/publications/guides/counterfeiting_guide_en.pdf
 

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Counterfeit Component Supply
CD  Component Obsolescence Group
https://www.cog.org.uk/secure/shop.asp
Order via the ''COG shop'' 

Combating counterfeiting
Publication  Orgalime - October 2001
http://www.orgalime.org/publications/guides/counterfeiting_guide_en.pdf
 

Counterfeit Component Photographic Poster Guide
Publication  Bob Willis - March 2009
http://www.bobwillis.co.uk/images/newposters.pdf
 

Counterfeiting kills - protect yourself
DVD  BEAMA (British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers' Association) - first released October 2006
http://www.beama.org.uk/information/newsDetail4.asp?cp=5&npg=4&id=64&pg
DVD may be ordered from the link above 

Distributor Directory
Publication  CIE (Components in Electronics) - published annually
https://www.wdis.co.uk/websubs/NFM/CED/page0.php
 

Intellectual property rights - manual for lodging of applications for customs action
Publication  the European Commission, Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/resources/documents/customs/customs_controls/counterfeit_piracy/right_holders/manual_en.pdf
 

Supply chain toolkit - protecting your IP rights
Publication  Intellectual Property Office, UK - June 2010
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ipctoolkit.pdf
Updated version 

Testing for counterfeit components
On-line Video  Bob Willis - March 2009
http://www.askbobwillis.com/online/componentcounterfeits.html
 

The Counterfeit Electronic Components Minefield (sample only)
Publication  the Component Obsolescence Group - first published 2008
http://www.cog.org.uk/PDF/booklets/Counterfeit%20Minefield%20Issue%201%20November%202008%20(sample).pdf
Printed copy may be ordered from https://www.cog.org.uk/secure/shop.asp 

The Date Coding Minefield
Publication  the Component Obsolescence Group - first published 2003
http://www.cog.org.uk/PDF/booklets/Date%20Coding%20Minefield%20Issue%201%20Sept%202003%20(sample).pdf
Printed copy may be ordered from https://www.cog.org.uk/secure/shop.asp  

The economic impact of counterfeiting and piracy - executive summary
Publication  OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) - June 2008
http://www.oecd.org/document/4/0,3343,en_2649_34173_40876868_1_1_1_1,00.html
 

The Safe Shoppers Guide
Publication  Electrical Safety Council, UK
http://www.escsafeshoppersguide.org.uk/
This useful guide is available as a web page and downloadable on pdf format 

If you are aware of any other useful publications on counterfeiting that you think should be listed here please contact us.

Organisations combating counterfeiting

The following organisations are active in undertaking work to combat the threat posed by counterfeiting, either of all goods or specifically electronic components. A lot of information is free to access although some organisations may require you to become a member: More


The Intellectual Property Office produces a monthly E-newsletter called 'IP Insight', providing the latest developments in IP news, views from the Intellectual Property Office and IP professionals, IP stories in the media, and details of IP events and exhibitions.
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/news/newsletters/subscribe.htm

Alliance Against IP Theft
The Alliance Against Intellectual Property (IP) Theft is a UK-based coalition of 20 associations and enforcement organisations including representatives of the audiovisual, music, video games and business software, and sports industries, branded manufactured goods, publishers, authors, retailers and designers.
http://www.allianceagainstiptheft.co.uk/

Alliance for Grey Market and Counterfeit Abatement
A strategic initiative composed of leading high technology companies committed to addressing the global impact of the grey market and counterfeiting of goods on the technology industry
http://www.agmaglobal.org/

Anti-Counterfeiting Group
The UK based Anti-Counterfeiting Group represents nearly 200 organisations globally, operating in, or providing specialist advice to, most industry sectors where counterfeiting is an issue.
http://www.a-cg.org/

Counterfeiting Kills
A website managed by the BEAMA Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group, which comprises members from all of the major brands in the circuit breaker and electrical accessory sectors, and exists to raise awareness and create a political will in affected countries, employ investigators to take group raid action at source, mainly in China and in market countries and establish international communication network between Far East, Middle East and Africa
http://www.counterfeit-kills.co.uk/

ERAI
ERAI monitors, investigates and reports issues that are affecting the global supply chain of electronics providing in-depth information on counterfeit, substandard and high-risk parts, reporting and investigation services and information and risk mitigation solutions.
http://www.erai.com/

EU (European Union)
The EU is working on a number of fronts to increase IPR protection, working in the WTO to improve respect for IP rights and was a key supporter of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. The EU negotiates provisions on IP rights protection in its bilateral trade agreements and works closely at a technical level with its trading partners on IP issues, with the authorities of certain third countries, the EU conducts "political dialogues" on IP issues (usually involving European industry), and/or runs technical co-operation programmes intended to help enhance IPR system. The EU is also involved in the development of a new Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/sectoral/intell_property/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/sectoral/intell_property/ipr_china_en.htm

European Semiconductor Industry Association (ESIA)
The Anti Counterfeiting Task Force within ESIA works with its counterpart within SIA to raise awareness throughout the US and EU communities of semiconductor counterfeiting and coordinates common industry action on both sides of the Atlantic by issuing and promoting guidelines for semiconductor purchasing and semiconductor manufacturers to mitigate counterfeits and issuing detection guidance and training for Border Control Authorities.
http://www.eeca.eu/index.php/esia_actf-anticounterfeiting/en/

Federation Against Software Theft - Investors in Software
The Federation Against Software Theft and Investors in Software (IiS) represent the UK software industry to strengthen and clarify the advice given to the end user community relating to best practice for Software Asset Management (SAM) and achieving cost efficient licence compliance.
http://www.fastiis.org/about_us/Federation_Against_Software_Theft-Investors_In_Software/

GIDEP (Government Industry Data Exchange Program)
A cooperative activity between government and industry participants seeking to reduce or eliminate expenditures of resources by sharing technical information essential during research, design, development, production and operational phases of the life cycle of systems, facilities and equipment
http://www.gidep.org/

Global Intellectual Property Center
An affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce leading a worldwide effort to champion intellectual property rights
http://www.theglobalipcenter.com

Her Majestys Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
HMRC is responsible for frontier customs protection of IP rights in the UK and for processing applications for protection from IP rights holders. Physical checks at the frontier are undertaken by the UK Border Agency on behalf of HMRC.
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000244&propertyType=document

Intellectual Property Office
The Intellectual Property Office is the official government body responsible for Intellectual Property (IP) rights in the UK. These rights include patents, designs, trade marks and copyright. The Intellectual Property Office manages the IP Crime Group, which brings together Government, enforcement agencies and industry groups. The group aims to ensure a collaborative approach in addressing key IP crime (counterfeiting and piracy) issues.
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/pro-policy/pro-crime/pro-crime-group.htm

International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA)
IMHA represents the interests of global producers and suppliers of holograms used for anti-counterfeiting, authentication and security applications.
http://www.ihma.org

National Fraud Authority
SET up by the UK Government in October 2008, the National Fraud Authority Authority (NFA) is an Executive Agency of the Attorney General's Office and one of the Law Officers' Departments. The NFA is tasked with the implementation of the National Fraud Strategy and working with others in the counter-fraud community to create a hostile environment for fraudsters. Part of their role is to simplify the process that brings justice to bear on fraudsters by eliminating barriers to successful prosecutions.
www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk
http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk/nfsa/nfrc/FAB/Pages/Counterfeitgoods.aspx

No to Fakes
The No To Fakes website provides useful information on organisations and events etc worldwide rleating to counterfeits across all sectors and is hosted by Bilcare Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd
http://www.notofakes.com

OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry
The OECD launched a project in 2005 to assess the magnitude and impact of counterfeiting and piracy, to improve factual understanding and awareness of how large the problem is and the effects that infringements of intellectual property rights have on governments, business and consumers in member countries and non-member economies.
http://www.oecd.org/document/50/0,3343,en_2649_34173_39542514_1_1_1_1,00.html

Orgalime
Orgalime acts on behalf of the engineering sector in Europe to and is pressing the European Commission, which is already active in a number of areas, to promote more actions on the external markets in both countries producing counterfeits and those importing them, and to push for an improvement in the application of existing regulations.
http://www.orgalime.org/issues/counterfeiting.asp

Quality Brands Protection Committee
The QBPC comprises more than 180 multinational member companies and works with the Chinese government to address the issues of IPR infringement, including trademark counterfeiting and piracy, originating in China.
http://www.qbpc.org.cn/

Semiconductor Industry Association
The SIA Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force (ACTF) is working on a variety of fronts stop counterfeits from entering the marketplace
http://www.sia-online.org/cs/anticounterfeiting

Stopfakes
Website managed by the International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce to provide access to ITA information on promoting trade and investment, strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, and ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements.
http://www.stopfakes.gov/

The Anti-Counterfeiting Group
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group represents the interests of UK and multinational companies, manufacturing a wide range of products from toothpaste to mobile phones, chocolate to car parts. Membership also includes lawyers, trade mark agents and brand protection specialists, creating a unique environment for anti-counterfeiting interests to collaborate. ACG campaigns against the trade in fakes on behalf of consumers and legitimate business interests, in partnership with government and law enforcement agencies, and other rights organisations.
http://www.a-cg.org/

The International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition
The world's largest non-profit organization devoted solely to protecting intellectual property and deterring counterfeiting. Membership spans from automotive, apparel, luxury goods and pharmaceuticals, to food, software and entertainment, from small privately owned companies to large multinationals.
http://www.iacc.org/

Trading Standards Institute
The Trading Standards Institute provides business guidance on compliance with trading standards legislation. The local trading standards service can be located through a postcode search facility on the website.
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/advice-business.cfm

US Patent and Trademark Office
The US Patent and Trademark Office manages the Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!) programme to combat the criminal networks that traffic counterfeit and pirated goods, stop trade in these goods at America's borders, block these goods around the world, and help small businesses secure and enforce their rights overseas.
http://www.uspto.gov/main/profiles/stopfakes.htm

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Counterfeiting and the law

  More

Information for IP rights holders on applying for action to be taken by customs
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/customs_controls/counterfeit_piracy/right_holders/index_en.htm

Information from the Intellectual Property Office on enforcing your IP.
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/crime-enforce.htm

The role of UK customs in enforcing IP law
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/pro-policy/policy-enforcement/pro-policy-enforcement-customs.htm

The Sale of Goods Act relating to faulty goods.
http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/consumers/fact-sheets/page38311.html

Events

  • Event:   Product and Packaging Protection Workshop
    Where:  BIS Conference Centre, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET, UK
    When:  8 March 2011
    Further Information:   Available soon

  • Event:   The Pan European Intellectual Property Summit
    Where:  Le Plaza, Bd Adolphe Maxlaan, 118-126, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
    When:  2 - 3 December 2010
    Further Information:   http://www.premiercercle.com/sites/ip2010/index.php

  • Event:   UK Electronics Alliance ''Anti Counterfeiting Forum''
    Where:  BIS Conference Centre, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET, UK
    When:  13 October 2010
    Further Information:   http://www.ukelectronicsalliance.org.uk

  • Event:   PCB West 2010
    Where:  Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center, USA
    When:  28 - 30 September 2010
    Further Information:   http://www.pcbwest.com/

  • Event:   Components for Military and Space Conference and Exhibition
    Where:  LAX Radisson Hotel, Los Angeles, USA
    When:  7 - 10 February 2011
    Further Information:   http://www.cti-us.com/cmsemain.htm