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All innovation starts with copying what came before. This is why liberal IP laws are so important to innovation. HN readers seem to understand this basic point

All innovation starts with copying what came before. This is why liberal IP laws are so important to innovation. HN readers seem to understand this basic point quite well unless China is involved.

jplayer01 8y ago
Except China as a state isn't our ally or friend. Their interests lie primarily in furthering their own political and military power, and secondarily benefiting their own population. They're more than eager to steal technology, then use that new-found knowledge and ability combined with massive government subsidies to drown out foreign competitors locally and abroad.
- magduf 8y ago
  >Their interests lie primarily in furthering their own political and military power, and secondarily benefiting their own population. How exactly is that different from the US? I don't see US politicians in power trying to do things to benefit their own population, such as by providing universal healthcare.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - seppin 8y ago
    You're not wrong, it's a common criticism of democracy. Except China is not a democracy, they act only to protect their own grip on power (and keep their stolen party wealth).
- seppin 8y ago
  Don't forget brutally repressing their citizens, which accounts to a large % of world population.
jimrhods23 8y ago
The converse of liberal IP laws is that once a company gets enough money and resources, they can just poach smaller companies for ideas, before they get any real traction. Less innovation will happen because more people will be secretive (since there are less protections) or we will end up with a few large companies owning everything. You also can't deny the fact that the US is probably the most innovative country in the world and has fairly strict IP laws. China has very lax IP laws and most companies end up just copying, because nobody wants to risk capital for R&D if it's just going to get copied by someone.

All innovation starts with copying what came before. This is why liberal IP laws are so important to innovation. HN readers seem to understand this basic point quite well unless China is involved.

jplayer01 8y ago

Except China as a state isn't our ally or friend. Their interests lie primarily in furthering their own political and military power, and secondarily benefiting their own population. They're more than eager to steal technology, then use that new-found knowledge and ability combined with massive government subsidies to drown out foreign competitors locally and abroad.

magduf 8y ago
>Their interests lie primarily in furthering their own political and military power, and secondarily benefiting their own population. How exactly is that different from the US? I don't see US politicians in power trying to do things to benefit their own population, such as by providing universal healthcare.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- seppin 8y ago
  You're not wrong, it's a common criticism of democracy. Except China is not a democracy, they act only to protect their own grip on power (and keep their stolen party wealth).
seppin 8y ago
Don't forget brutally repressing their citizens, which accounts to a large % of world population.

jimrhods23 8y ago

The converse of liberal IP laws is that once a company gets enough money and resources, they can just poach smaller companies for ideas, before they get any real traction. Less innovation will happen because more people will be secretive (since there are less protections) or we will end up with a few large companies owning everything. You also can't deny the fact that the US is probably the most innovative country in the world and has fairly strict IP laws. China has very lax IP laws and most companies end up just copying, because nobody wants to risk capital for R&D if it's just going to get copied by someone.