[regularfry]

That's exactly what I mean. Patents requires publishing so that it could be replicated.

[mikewarot]

Knowing the underlying principles is only a starting point. The hard work is going from that to production.

Sounds simple, costs millions.

[vlovich123]

A nation state like China is developed enough that it doesn’t care about millions or even billions for something as strategic as this. They’re looking to potentially invade Taiwan to take over TSMC to get their hands on bleeding edge tech which is going to be significant more difficult and expensive.

[mikewarot]

East Germany tried the same strategy during the Cold war

[IshKebab]

Patents don't provide enough information to replicate an invention generally. Especially for complex industrial processes.

[vlovich123]

Companies know this and a) intentionally make the parents vague (also helps with enforcement) and b) keep a huge amount back as trade secrets. That’s why you have industrial espionage.