Felix Salmon has an engaging blog on how the world benefits from Chinese piracy
link here. His argument is simple; we benefit from cheap imports that seem to be copies (good or not so good but serving the same purpose) of something we also make. The article takes off from a Foreign Affairs piece, entitled Fake It Til You Make It
link here whose argument is that we all benefit. We get cheap imports and cheaper domestic manufactures, they get cheap goods and the foreign exchange to buy competitive imports. And the competition forces the pace of innovation both at home and abroad, a process that seems to have slowed.
This is one of many (well, an increasing number of) blogs that challenge the presumed benefits from patents and copyrights and seek to increase competition and innovation. Ultimately, this seems to present a growing challenge to the laws which no longer seem to promote competition and innovation, instead slowing them. Just as important has been the growth of law suits that rarely help the consumer but do add to the costs to pay for expensive lawyers and long legal processes.
It is really nice to have other bloggers sharing this conclusion.
It would be even better if the link worked so we could check out this well-informed blogger.
That link is http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/139452/kal-raustiala-and-christopher-sprigman/fake-it-till-you-make-it
Unfortunately, the full article is pay-walled.
