Fake 555 timers - doesn't that seem like an awful lot of work for a small gain?

[sokoloff]

https://zeptobars.com/en/read/Ti-555-NE555-real-vs-face-china-chinese

Some legitimate engineering, design, and manufacturing went into those. If you had all those skills and time, wouldn't it be easier to make an honest living in the engineering supply chain?

[magetoo]

I keep thinking that there has to be some cultural component at work here, that it's not a fake that's intended to trick people who want TI parts, that everyone who buys them in the domestic market knows what they're getting.  But what do I know.

[Red Squirrel]

That is actually hilariously good, like, to go through all that engineering, not to mention buying the equipment needed to make dies/packages etc.   As far as I know there is no patent on the 555 timer (or is there?) so anyone should be allowed to manufacture and sell their own, right?  Seems to me they should have simply did that. 

[edavid]

That is actually hilariously good, like, to go through all that engineering, not to mention buying the equipment needed to make dies/packages etc.   As far as I know there is no patent on the 555 timer (or is there?) so anyone should be allowed to manufacture and sell their own, right?  Seems to me they should have simply did that.

They did do that.  There are apparently a couple of chip companies in China that make 555s, which they probably sell with their own part number, at a low China domestic price.  Then there is someone else who remarks them to look like TI parts, and then resells them at a TI price.  Remarking equipment is very cheap.

[CJay]

Are they actually counterfeiting?

Looks to me like it's a small time fab making a subsistence living, I think TI still make the 555 so it's got to have a market and it's a simple enough chip for a 'low tech'* fab to make a fraction of a cent on, given decent volume it's not a bad way to make an honest living.

Certainly beats remarking salvaged chips IMHO
 

[tszaboo]

I keep thinking that there has to be some cultural component at work here, that it's not a fake that's intended to trick people who want TI parts, that everyone who buys them in the domestic market knows what they're getting.  But what do I know.

Yeah, apparently, In china, a blatant copy is considered a good thing. Like tribute to the original, praising it. I've heard a story, a west teacher went to china, and gave a "write me X story" homework. And received 20 copy of the same thing. And the students didn't even understand what was his problem.
At least, they don't decapitate you if you think differently....

[edavid]

Are they actually counterfeiting?

The people who make the chips probably aren't.

The people who remark them with a TI logo are.

[CJay]

Are they actually counterfeiting?

The people who make the chips probably aren't.

The people who remark them with a TI logo are.

Ah, yeah, I missed the bit about them being marked or re-marked TI

[VK3DRB]

I keep thinking that there has to be some cultural component at work here, that it's not a fake that's intended to trick people who want TI parts, that everyone who buys them in the domestic market knows what they're getting.  But what do I know.

Yeah, apparently, In china, a blatant copy is considered a good thing. Like tribute to the original, praising it. I've heard a story, a west teacher went to china, and gave a "write me X story" homework. And received 20 copy of the same thing. And the students didn't even understand what was his problem...

The patent for the 555 has long run out. So if some crap-for-brains Chinese manufacturer copies it, who cares. The real problem is IP, trade mark and patent violation which is rife in China.... electronics, clothing, tools, you name it. The kids should receive some "re-education", ie: corporal punishment, to drive the message home to them that a good comrade does not plagiarise. The owners of the companies counterfeiting should be thrown into prison so they can think about the hurt they have caused. FTDI had every right to cripple the pirated FTDI chips.

Imagine if YOU had created some terrific electronic device and as you just being to sell it and start making a profit after all the time, effort and money you have invested. And then some scumbag has copied it, undercutting you and taking a market share. You'd be very upset, understandably so.