A shortage of semiconductor processors has resulted in delivery times of some items as high as 99 weeks (nearly two years), according to American electronics distributor Sourcengine. In February, the average delivery time for 16-bit processors increased by 15 weeks compared to October last year, to 44 weeks. Power electronics can be on the way to customers for 37 weeks (more than six months).

The cost of the same processors, according to Gartner, has grown by an average of 15% over the past year. In Japan, technology manufacturers have been forced to reduce production volumes due to a shortage of chips. In the fourth quarter of last year, 26% fewer air conditioners were produced than two years earlier. Production volumes of digital cameras fell by 25%, automakers were forced to reduce the production of passenger vehicles by 16%.

Chip manufacturers are trying to increase production volumes, they began to consume 14% more silicon wafers alone last year, and the utilization rate of many production lines exceeded 90%. At the same time, market participants cannot count on a significant increase in production volumes using mature technical processes. In the segment of 40-nm and more mature technical processes, output volumes grew by only 4%, and 28-nm and more modern chips began to be produced by 13% more.

One of the new theories int he chip manufacturing circles is that huge availability issues are caused by special join US and EU operation to hit China. Huge amount of chips are being bough by US and EU companies on freshly printed government money and never actually used, some of them are stored and some utilized.

Threats of imposing the most severe anti-Russian sanctions, broadcast daily by Western politicians through diplomatic and other channels, force Russia to look for “antidotes” that are stronger than the food embargo or the termination of Deutsche Welle broadcasting in the Russian Federation. Moreover, the toxic sanctions rhetoric from America and its European allies is growing, literally, every day.

From the point of view of the economic response, in this context, restrictions on the supply of hydrocarbons, titanium and other raw materials, the closure of airspace and transit transport corridors, and the transition to international payments in yuan are often mentioned.

All these measures, of course, will have a significant impact on the well-being of our “partners” from the West, but they will also bring risks for Russia itself. Many domestic enterprises can suffer from them.

According to a part of the expert community, the most effective economic weapon, which, if fired at opponents would not injure us at the same time, could be the refusal to recognize foreign patents. First of all, American. Moreover, this decision can support domestic business in a very difficult situation.

“There is an area of ​​tremendous vulnerability for the United States. These are patents, intellectual property. In 2013, the value of granted patents in the United States was estimated at $5 trillion. Over the years, of course, it has grown and, according to modest estimates, it is now at least $6 trillion. If Russia, in response to the aggravation of the crisis, went to break off relations with the United States, then in economic language this would mean: “we do not know you, which means we may not recognize your papers.” And we could simply release all American patents, ” Vasily Koltashov, director of the Institute of the New Society, head of the Center for Political Economic Research, told Expert.

According to the expert, this can be done in different ways. For example, in the form of permission on our territory to anyone to produce, copy, hack, imitate, sell, and so on, American and European products. This can also be done on the basis of the issuance of their own patents for American ones.

“This is how Americans in the 19th century covered English patents. There is an English patent, but an American entrepreneur comes and brings the same thing. He is given an American patent. In fact, do not take into account the English patent in the USA! This policy was very effective for the development of American capitalism and industry, production and technology. They caught up and, as a result, overtook Great Britain,” says Vasily Koltashov.

In the event of such a turn of events, only the initial losses of the United States, according to him, will amount to about 10 trillion dollars. About 60% of this amount "Uncle Sam" and his nephews will miss directly due to the loss of intellectual property rights.

“Since patents have gone nowhere, it means that it is no longer possible, as before, to earn on their basis, to keep the same prices. There will be a fall in the securities of American companies. For example, pharmaceuticals. If you can decompose any American pill in the laboratory and produce the same thing, then why these papers? After all, it is clear that American medicines are overpriced. This is based precisely on the possession of intellectual property, ”said the director of INO, adding that Hollywood will also say goodbye to its income.

Microsoft will also be the victim, as it will be possible to hack the software, and it will be legal. The list goes on. Further, many American corporations will receive very unpleasant demands from creditors who are not sure about the sustainability of the business they finance. All this is capable of burying 40 years of building the so-called "new economy" of the United States.

It will be new dream land.