The real question here is how important the bottom line is. I think this is more like Cold War thinking - Let the west put up all the costs for research and dev

The real question here is how important the bottom line is. I think this is more like Cold War thinking - Let the west put up all the costs for research and development, if works - we will borrow it. Using this method, your competitor wastes time and money developing something and you come in and take what works. Is it efficient? Yes. However, by following the non-risky approach means you are always second and never first (to capture largest market share). The internet: .com for US vs .co.uk, .co.cn. The telephone: +1 for US, 011+86 for China.