IP The New Gold with a Half Life

[Arthur Hanson]

The main issue for many companies, not just tech and semis, is rampant IP theft in virtually all areas by Chinese companies. This problem should be attacked by legal means in the courts and would involve everything from sanctions to seizures. Many of these laws are already in place around the world. What is truly needed is a world wide patent and copyright system to replace the patch work mess we have now that has given us an expanding mess of epic proportions. One major issue is that IP has an increasing at an ever accelerating rate in everything. The main issue for many companies, not just tech and semis, is rampant IP theft in virtually all areas by Chinese companies and several other bad actors. This problem should be attacked by legal means in the courts and would involve everything from sanctions to seizures. Many of these laws are already in place around the world. What is truly needed is a world wide patent and copyright system to replace the patch work mess we have now that has given us an expanding mess of epic proportions. Shorter half life in many areas and the legal systems are far to slow to address the greatest value early in the life of IP. This leads to increasing theft for the profits are made by the time sanctions are put into effect. Any legal actions will have to have a foundation and penalties built on sales made from day one and as an ultimate barrier, arrangements made for customers to be denied use of the product and outright seizure. Piracy has become so rampant, it hurts everyone and must be dealt with at both the production and customer use levels since it is becoming rampant in all fields. Only a world wide system will work in a world wide economy. For countries that don't cooperate or participate, they must be excluded in every way including protections. If a country doesn't want to participate, soon no one would want to deal with anyone outside the system for their products could be seized at any time in production or after sale. IP has become key in almost all products from semis, pharmaceuticals to almost everything. The system we have now is a patchwork, litigation mess that has enabled bad actors to prosper. Only a world wide system will ever work for the patch work of rules and laws we have now has failed in to many ways. Also patent and copyright life span must be dealt with in a reasonable manner on which everyone now has a different view. It must be funded by a tax or fees or only the biggest players will dominate on costs alone.

One other way of protecting IP is to make it in an area at an ever accelerating rate so it rapidly becomes obsolete, although there are only a few areas where this can be applied.

Comments and additions solicited and welcome, maybe there is a better way and all must keep an open mind. What we have now is insanity on steroids. This is a multi industry problem that shows little sign of improvement and will become a greater impediment to the speed of progress going forward. Protection of IP is rapidly becoming as important as the IP itself.