Look into earlier in the Industrial Revolution and you'll find plenty of IP thefts and outright defiance of UK laws of technology export controls and laws again

Look into earlier in the Industrial Revolution and you'll find plenty of IP thefts and outright defiance of UK laws of technology export controls and laws against emigration of skilled workers. The US went further than "being a fence" and had agents stealing technology as early as 1787. It isn't limited to industrial technology. Music piracy got so bad in the 19th century that Gilbert and Sullivan premiered "The Pirates of Penzance" in New York first to stop the issues of rampant unauthorized productions seen by "HMS Pinafore". When they were the underdog the US could politely be described as "guilty as sin". I offer this more for the sake of enlightenment and amusement than anything else.