[mogrim]

So what happens when the US government funds the research, and a Chinese company just uses it and makes the money?

[wtracy]

Exactly what happens now: Nothing. US patents aren't enforceable in China to begin with.

[mogrim]

They become enforceable when the Chinese company exports them back to the US, though.

I wonder if the US government could offer free licensing to all national companies, which would seem to be the best of both worlds?

[betterunix]

What difference does that make? Everyone benefits from the results of research.

[mogrim]

I tend to agree, but you could argue that as US taxpayers are paying for the research it would be stupid/unethical/incorrect not to maximise any potential profit from its results.

(Note: I'm not a US citizen, I'm British. s/US/UK/ and the basic result is the same...)