Sharp Rise Seen in Chinese Patents 110
ianare writes "According to a report by the UN's intellectual property agency, the number of requests for patents in China grew by 33% in 2005 compared with the previous year. That gives it the world's third highest number behind Japan and the United States, the agency said. China's leaders have been urging companies to become more creative, and put more of their money into developing new technology. 'Made by China' rather than simply 'Made in China' will mean that the country's economic miracle stands a far better chance of lasting longer."
Re:I wonder if... (Score:4, Insightful)
Sure, China might take a hit on their huge USD reserves, but in the mean while, they have built hundreds of factories, infrastructure and acquired real skills and real wealth. McDonalds recently announced [google.com] a 30% pay raise for its employees in China. When was the last time that happened in the US?
They are also gaining political influence in countries with rich natural resources, such as in Africa and the Middle East. That influence would remain long after the dollar loses its reserve currency status. Their stockpile of dollars is also being used to threaten [telegraph.co.uk] the US itself.
Why is this always seen as a threat? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Sucks to be western. (Score:3, Insightful)
One reason for the shift to IP instead of production could quite simply be because China is currently quite busily polluting itself to death. As the level of toxic elements rises in the environment it will be interesting to see what future chemical chain reactions will occur and how high the death toll will rise.
Meanwhile those who reaped the profits while destroying their country will be seeking means by which to bail with their wealth intact and seek to secure future means of income.
China's Miracle? (Score:4, Insightful)
China will find the same problem that the west has - everyone want's to be upper (or middle) class eventually. Very few in China are reaping the benfits of the changes, and many are happy just to make a better living than they had before. Eventually, thier children - or children's children - will want far more, and will expect more. A growing middle class will not put up with the destruction of their natural environment and unsafe (or "unfair" - definine it as you wish) working conditions. Pressure will be placed on the govenerment from many sides, and the government will start changing things.
It is simply a matter of time before things change. There are still places where manufacturing is cheap in the US. There are places in the US where $50k can provide a pleasant lifestyle for a family, and $80-90k is the local upper class. And some of those places are pretty darned nice places to live. Some may think those numbers are high, and those of you in the major metro areas will wonder how anyone can afford groceries on such an income. (Hint: in the next town over from me, there are new, 2000SF houses on a acre of land selling for under $100/sf, and taxes are under 1% of the value) As the middle class increases in China, the same wage pressures will occur, and - if they ever de-link their currency - it's going to result in the cost of goods from China increasing at a dramatic rate.
There will be more IP based production - it's the hallmark of modern civilization. Interestingly, I think we will find globalization retreat a bit in the next 50 years. As the cost of production increases in low-wage markets, transportation costs will shift marginal items back to a local advantage. This may become accellerated by the increasing cost for fuel (which, imho, is artificially inflated by the speculation markets...but that's another show). It will not put things back to the 1960s or 70s, but a new dynamic balance will form.
Oh, so *now* they care about patents? (Score:3, Insightful)
Knowing China's penchant for taking shortcuts, I'd double-check every one of those patents against existing registries.
Re:How China is "competitive" on the global market (Score:1, Insightful)
A pittance in the US is a decent wage in China. A standard year of work in the US, is slave labor in France.
2) Allow children to make toxic toys for Americans
Don't buy them.
3) No minimum hours per week, no overtime
Did you mean Maximum hours? There are laws. Enforcement is lax, but they do exist. I'm in China. I get overtime, paid vacations, paid health insurance.
4) IP theft
And this is different from anyone else?
5) Lax environmental regulations
Yes. Kinda similar to the US 100 years ago.
it's not a miracle (Score:5, Insightful)
I suppose it was a "miracle" when we used slaves here in the US to do farming, build railroads, etc?
They have 1/5 the total world population...current estimate: 1,321,851,888.
Japan has 127,433,494 people.
And the US? 301,139,947.
China has more than 3 times the population of Japan and the US combined.
Further, China is taking the cheapest route on everything, and is suffering for it. The air quality there is horrendous, the water isn't drinkable - hell, we'll need to worry about them invading someone soon just so they can find someplace to be able to breathe. Cutting corners, doing no pollution control, no sanitation efforts...yeah, of course you can make extra $$ that way. At what cost, though.
The only miraculous thing here is that they are doing so poorly despite these and other things massively in their favor.
Re:it's not a miracle (Score:2, Insightful)
Now, what I really don't get is why everyone seems is so concerned with China becoming a wealthy country... Shouldn't the fact that 1/5 of the world population lives there make it a good thing?