You probably heard references to Samuel Slater. He memorized the plans for British textile equipment and brought them to the US. He violated British law, but US

You probably heard references to Samuel Slater. He memorized the plans for British textile equipment and brought them to the US. He violated British law, but US law did not mind. Then there is Eli Whitney, to give an example of an American who enjoyed US patent protection. He patented his cotton gin. You would want to ask a historian for other examples.