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> China in general has said "we don't care" about IP rights, it is only changing now because (a) they are beginning to have their own IP to protect, (b) it is a

by jb613 10y ago

> China in general has said "we don't care" about IP rights, it is only changing now because (a) they are beginning to have their own IP to protect, (b) it is a race to the bottom between local companies when NO IP is protected, and (c) you will get sued to death on products sold in developed markets that are questionable in IP usage. Or is China now caring about IP because they have seen that it's more profitable to the innovator rather than after-the-fact-copycat. The bigger question is whether they can become the innovator. In some instances, they have indicated they might but overall I'm not sold that they can.

seanmcdirmid 10y ago
Actually, copying other IP has been seen as low hanging fruit, as it was for many other economies at that stage of development (Japan post WW2, America in the late 1800s as the industrial revolution was starting in the UK). Chinese VCs preferred "copy successful ideas from west" ideas because they were much lower risk for their capital. It is just that the low hanging fruits are now almost all picked. Hopefully they are reaching their Walkman moment.
- jb613 10y ago
  > It is just that the low hanging fruits are now almost all picked. If you're copying, then there is never an end to the low hanging fruit. Never. > Hopefully they are reaching their Walkman moment. To reach a Walkman moment they first have to invent a Walkman. Hope is not a strategy.
  - seanmcdirmid 10y ago
    No, eventually the low hanging fruit runs out as you catch up with others and copying has diminishing, as well as negative, returns. You can't develop and secure your own IP as long as you are stealing others. > To reach a Walkman moment they first have to invent a Walkman. Hope is not a strategy. I'm talking about my own hopes here. And ya, they would have to invent a "Walkman." It hasn't happened yet, none of Xiaomi's products so far are original in anyway.

by jb613 10y ago

seanmcdirmid 10y ago

Actually, copying other IP has been seen as low hanging fruit, as it was for many other economies at that stage of development (Japan post WW2, America in the late 1800s as the industrial revolution was starting in the UK). Chinese VCs preferred "copy successful ideas from west" ideas because they were much lower risk for their capital. It is just that the low hanging fruits are now almost all picked. Hopefully they are reaching their Walkman moment.

jb613 10y ago
> It is just that the low hanging fruits are now almost all picked. If you're copying, then there is never an end to the low hanging fruit. Never. > Hopefully they are reaching their Walkman moment. To reach a Walkman moment they first have to invent a Walkman. Hope is not a strategy.
- seanmcdirmid 10y ago
  No, eventually the low hanging fruit runs out as you catch up with others and copying has diminishing, as well as negative, returns. You can't develop and secure your own IP as long as you are stealing others. > To reach a Walkman moment they first have to invent a Walkman. Hope is not a strategy. I'm talking about my own hopes here. And ya, they would have to invent a "Walkman." It hasn't happened yet, none of Xiaomi's products so far are original in anyway.