Microsoft, Google duke it out for China

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Apples and oranges

Those who assist in governmental repression as a condition for doing business deserve all of the contempt they get (no matter who they are); the regimes that impose such requirements are even more contemptable. No double-standard there.

Nevertheless, even the worst of regimes are obligated to act in the interests of their own citizens; thus, just as much as it is the obligation of the US, UK, Japan, and sundry European governments to act in the best interests of their citizens, it is also the obligation of the Chinese, Saudi and Burmese governments to act in the best interests of theirs (how much they do so is a matter of opinion). This is no more true than in the areas of economic policy and commercial regulation.

Thus, it's up to the Chinese government to decide how much they want to respect foreign copyrights in their country, just as it is the perogative of the US president and Congress to determine how much to respect foreign copyrights in ours. In making such determinations, governments are responsible to their own citizens for the consequences, not foreign governments and certainly not the international community (even in the least democratic socities, there are ways for citizens to hold their governments to account; it's just more difficult). I've seen various attempts by US administrations over the years to try to browbeat foreign governments into adopting economic policies to suit US interests; as far as I can see , they are not worth the effort. Instead, I think it better for the US to promote the interests of its own citizens with the understanding that other governments will do the same. If that makes life more difficult for multinational corporations, then too bad. Given the views just expressed, you probably won't be surprised to learn that I have little appreciation for international free trade agreements in general, and of the GATT and WTO in particular; in many cases, I think them worse than useless.

Thus, I neither applaud, nor condemn the Chinese government's failure to adequately enforce foreign copyrights and/or patents. Frankly, it's none of my business, as these are mere franchises designed to promote innovation in the countries that decide to recognize them and not fundamental rights. The most we should do about it is to decline to recognize any such franchises that they may issue).

Posted by: John L. Ries   Posted on: 07/21/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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