[momo_hn2025]

I'd like to offer a couple of additional perspectives on the discussion around China's approach to intellectual property.

Firstly, it's important to recognize that challenges with IP protection in China are not exclusively an issue for foreign entities; they represent a broader systemic problem that impacts domestic companies as well.

Secondly, a crucial, though perhaps less visible, factor is the state of the legal infrastructure. There's an argument to be made that China's legal system hasn't yet reached a stage of efficiency or possess sufficient specialized resources to comprehensively manage the sheer volume and complexity of IP disputes for all parties. From this viewpoint, the situation might be framed less as 'China deliberately permits IP infringement' and more as 'China is still in the process of developing a robust and universally effective system to tackle IP protection challenges.'

Finally, China's historically export-oriented economic model naturally increases the touchpoints and potential for IP conflicts between domestic and international businesses, making such disputes more visible on the global stage. Compounding this, many first-generation Chinese entrepreneurs, often products of a different era with less emphasis on formal IP education, may not have initially possessed a strong awareness or understanding of intellectual property rights as they are conceived internationally. This isn't to excuse infringement, but to highlight a factor that likely contributed to the prevalence of such issues.

[robomartin]

You make a fair point. However, I think the argument fails when we consider the destruction they have caused in the US and Europe by stealing IP. The typical mode of operation is that they go after any product or market that breaks a $5MM ARR (Annual Run Rate) with predatory intent. In other words, as any judge in the west is likely to say, ignorance of the law does not constitute justification.

There's another element of this which might refute the ignorance claim. It is estimated that approximately 750,000 people from China study abroad (US and Europe). In other words, in round numbers, perhaps ten million people over ten years. Another ten million or more actually work abroad. The point is that the claim of ignorance of IP laws in the US and Europe is likely false. The opaque and closed nature of their system makes it so that they can benefit and learn from stolen IP without suffering any consequences. This advances their industrial based and grows the economy while causing damage everywhere else. Not a good situation at all.