IPC Sets Best Practices for Printed Circuit Board IP Protection
October 12, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
IPC released a report on best practices in intellectual property (IP) protection for printed circuit boards (PCBs) in both commercial and military applications.
The report, Best North American Industry Practices to Protect IP, was developed in cooperation with the IPC Executive Agent (EA) Task Force and was submitted to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for review.
In the report, IPC provides a list of best IP protection practices being used by leading commercial and military PCB manufacturers in North America.
In recognition of the importance of PCBs to national security, Congress directed the DoD in January 2009 to develop a trusted-source program for PCBs, which will help the DoD identify and qualify a network of manufacturers, according to IPC.
IPC created the EA Task Force - comprised of executives from North American PCB manufacturers - to develop policy recommendations for building upon and sustaining a North American PCB industry capable of supporting DoD needs and ensuring national security.
The task force made the following policy recommendations in April 2009:
- Create a DoD-funded PCB consortium to conduct R&D to ensure that PCB manufacturers are able to supply and support future product needs of the DoD and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
- The DoD shall mandate that prime contractors submit a PCB technology analysis in their formal bids to the DoD in order to ascertain what is feasible and accordingly dedicate R&D funding for technologically limited areas.
- Transparent information on DoD funding as well as creation of tax incentives, rebates and/or credits for PCB manufacturers that supply the DoD will renew interest and investment by U.S.-based companies.
- The DoD should enforce compliance with current standards such as military, International Traffic in Arms regulations and IPC standards adopted by the DoD in order to ensure trust of PCBs intended for the DoD.
- Prime contractors working on DoD programs must be involved in and actively participate in the development and ongoing maintenance of PCB technology roadmaps.
Source: IPC.