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Isn't this "whataboutism"? You shut down a conversation by trying to deflect about how others have also done something? Like you said, two wrongs don't make a

Isn't this "whataboutism"? You shut down a conversation by trying to deflect about how others have also done something? Like you said, two wrongs don't make a right. Just by pointing out this has happened elsewhere doesn't make the conversation about China doing it any less important or relevant. Why shut down this conversation?

chillacy 8y ago
To call what we call “IP infringement” as wrong presumes IP monopolies are right, and that there’s no objective reason why it’s so . In the US patent law doesn’t cover everything, there are alternate forms of IP like copyright which has let open source software and fashion thrive. Then there’s the open hardware system in China called GongKai: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141230/09362929550/how-gongkai-innovation-could-allow-china-to-leapfrog-west.shtml https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141230/09362929550/how-g...
- AnimalMuppet 8y ago
  All right, but if China has signed international IP agreements, it is reasonable to expect them to keep their word. [See my other comment for how to interpret "expect", though...]
anon92612 8y ago
Or is it perspective?
AnimalMuppet 8y ago
There's two parts here. Yes, China's doing it, and we shouldn't ignore it, and we need to condemn it and figure out how to respond. That's on one level. On another level, though, any country that has more to gain by stealing than to lose by being stolen from is going to be tempted to steal. Given what human nature is, you'd better expect it to happen. It's like how in domestic society, on one level we expect people to obey the law. But on another level we expect at least some people not to, which is why we have police.
- aurailious 8y ago
  I forget, what was this thread about again? Human nature or China stealing IP?
AsyncAwait 8y ago
"whataboutism" is a term employed by hypocrites who don't have a real counter-argument.
amaccuish 8y ago
In what way does this fact "shutdown the conversation"?

chillacy 8y ago

To call what we call “IP infringement” as wrong presumes IP monopolies are right, and that there’s no objective reason why it’s so . In the US patent law doesn’t cover everything, there are alternate forms of IP like copyright which has let open source software and fashion thrive. Then there’s the open hardware system in China called GongKai: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141230/09362929550/how-gongkai-innovation-could-allow-china-to-leapfrog-west.shtml https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141230/09362929550/how-g...

AnimalMuppet 8y ago
All right, but if China has signed international IP agreements, it is reasonable to expect them to keep their word. [See my other comment for how to interpret "expect", though...]

anon92612 8y ago

Or is it perspective?

AnimalMuppet 8y ago

There's two parts here. Yes, China's doing it, and we shouldn't ignore it, and we need to condemn it and figure out how to respond. That's on one level. On another level, though, any country that has more to gain by stealing than to lose by being stolen from is going to be tempted to steal. Given what human nature is, you'd better expect it to happen. It's like how in domestic society, on one level we expect people to obey the law. But on another level we expect at least some people not to, which is why we have police.

aurailious 8y ago
I forget, what was this thread about again? Human nature or China stealing IP?

AsyncAwait 8y ago

"whataboutism" is a term employed by hypocrites who don't have a real counter-argument.

amaccuish 8y ago

In what way does this fact "shutdown the conversation"?