WASHINGTON -- While the value of products confiscated by Customs at US borders declined in 2009, consumer electronics seizures actually rose.

The number and value of confiscated so-called intellectual property rights (IPR) fell 4% in fiscal 2009 to $260.7 million after rising more than 25% in each of the three preceding fiscal years. The number of seizures fell 1% to 14,841, reversing a 9.7% increase in fiscal 2008.

The figures were recently released by the US Customs and Border Protection.

For consumers, the good news is the value of IPR involved with public health, safety and security fell by half to $32.4 million, and the number fell from 1,950 to 1,543.

The bad news is consumer electronics, at 12%, was the second-most commonly seized item, by value, and significant jumps were seen in the value of seizures of computers and hardware. Footwear was the most commonly seized item by value, at 38% of total seizures. 

Asia is the primary source for counterfeit goods, with China accounting for $204.7 million (79%) of the total domestic value of such goods. Second is Hong Kong (10.3%), India (1.1%), Taiwan (1%) and Korea (0.6%).

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