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Fake memory chip seller fined £16,000

Distributor Rombyte pleads guilty to counterfeit charge...

Tags: berkshire, fake, memory chips, hynix

By Andy McCue

Published: 4 August 2003 11:02 BST

Berkshire-based distributor Rombyte has escaped with a fine of just £16,000 plus £15,000 costs at Reading Crown Court for supplying counterfeit memory chips.

The fine was handed down after three Rombyte directors pleaded guilty earlier this year to eight counts of selling counterfeit chips following a raid by West Berkshire Trading Standards in 2002.

Fake Hynix memory chips were at the centre of the case, with Rombyte forced to "cease and desist" selling cheaper counterfeit memory branded with the Hynix trademark. Hynix agreed not to take separate action against Rombyte in exchange for a list of suppliers importing the chips from Taiwan.

Rombyte and another distributor, First Choice Components, were also forced to destroy all their remaining stocks of the fake chips. In Rombyte's case that amounted to £195,000 worth of fake memory that had to be destroyed.

Rombyte was contacted but no one was available for comment.

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