IP infringement is one half of the coin, industrial espionage the other. Historically, some of the very earliest documented cases of industrial espionage were

IP infringement is one half of the coin, industrial espionage the other. Historically, some of the very earliest documented cases of industrial espionage were performed against China by european powers. - The US is not innocent in that regard either, but probably much better at hiding their activity. We needed Edward Snowden to substantiate what people in the industry here in Germany had been suspecting for decades [0]: I've heard of numerous cases where german companies are developing new tech, and shortly before or after release an american company with close ties to the government releases an equal product. [0] https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-intelligence-agency-bnd-under-fire-for-nsa-cooperation-a-1030593.html https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-intellig...