Counterfeiting is a top concern for distributors of electronic components
“It [counterfeiting] is a big, looming issue for the industry. It’s an issue that’s going to be in the spotlight politically as the government and law enforcement officials take a more active role in stopping it…Not only does it mean lost sales, but lost sales translate into lost jobs, less money spent on innovation and new technology, loss of IP, and damaged brands and reputations.”
Robin Gray, executive vice president of NEDA (National Electronic Distributors Association). Click here to read more.

When you outsource procurement through contract manufacturing, you increase the possibility of counterfeit components ending up in your product. Click here to read this trade article on the high cost of counterfeiting to businesses.

One of the major problems with using counterfeit components is that while they may have a higher incidence of failure, they may not fail until they have been deployed in the field’. Click here to read this trade article giving vital information on identifying potential fakes before they hit the shop floor.

Avoid counterfeit electronic components
If there is one cardinal rule that electronics buyers should follow to reduce the risk of buying counterfeit or substandard parts it is to know the source of the parts.

Click here to read useful article on avoiding bogus electronic parts.

Beware of counterfeit software
By some estimates, over 40% of the software used in business settings in the United States is illegally copied or "pirated." Many businesses and users in the US will use copies of software for which they are not licensed. In some countries, well over 95% of the software in use is pirated. Software pirates include casual, amateur copiers of software as well as those who sell and those who buy professionally pirated software products.

Click here to read more about the pirate software industry and how to avoid counterfeit products.

Just because it carries an Energy Star sticker, doesn't mean it's not a fake, click here to read more about a Government Accountability Office investigation that found how easy it was for fake electrical products to gain Energy Star labels.

Be on the lookout for counterfeit smartphones,etc, click here to find out more about this