Kai,

The positive effects of high-quality service and support are felt slowly and over time, while the effect of 1200 RMA's, though you've sold only 750 of your legitimate product, is felt immediately and will put you out of business in short order as well.

You can buy "private-brand-labeled (stock-numbered) parts if your volumes are large enough. You can even hide one or two active components between layers of your board, if you're willing and can bear the extra cost, but, as you say, you never have an absolute guarantee your product won't be copied.

It's true, too, that, while your competitor is analyzing, or even copying, your product, you're already working on the next generation. That will work in your favor, but only over time. Unfortunately, the managers often dispose of the designers as soon as the product "works" and has no intention of developing a revision until market forces demand it. I guess they're the copyist's fair prey.

If you mislabel your parts, it will misdirect those considering copying your device. They can figure it out, but it's not so easy. If there are enough disincentives, it begins to work like having a dog discourages burglars. The burglar would rather strike where there's no dog and the window is left unlatched, and the lights are left off. I'm a believer in that strategy. There's a bloodstain beneath one of my windows, where my dog did her job. It's too bad that sort of thing doesn't happen every day. It might discourage burglars.

RE