[rfoo]

> copying is not theft, it's acknowledge of something's quality

This is a common misconception. It is true that they don't think it is theft once it's widely available (even in underground community), but it's not because "copying is acknowledge of something's quality". This is one of the usual excuses.

A better phrasing would be: modern (post-1980s) Chinese people [1] care more about who is able to build the thing, not who is able to invent / design. They happily (and knowingly) steal your design and after a few iterations build it better and think it's totally legit because you failed to prevent them from stealing your design and you also can't build it better.

And the annoying part is, turns out, after copying all they can steal they surprisingly can invent, too.

[1] It's not yet a culture

[Rinzler89]

Isn't this exactly the MO of post-war Japanese industry? Copy everything from the west for the local market, then improve and make it better and cheaper then seel it in their market for profits?

[toast0]

Also the MO of early US industrialism. Copy everything from the UK and Europe, make it better and cheaper, apply it to local conditions, etc, etc. Only start supporting international patents when you've got lots of patents that warrant protection.

[makapuf]

See also: Nintendo and IP protection.