Intellectual Property Law

What do you think about illegal use of American intellectual property in Russia and other countries?

Illegal use of foreign intellectual property was a common business during the Soviet time; not much has changed since then despite economical reforms in Russia. Plagiarists are now as before re-writing and publishing under their names professional manuals and handbooks. Piracy of software is seen as normal business. Illustration: http://www.freewebs.com/overpopulation1/illustrations.htm Comment: http://www.freewebs.com/overpopulation1/scientificmisconduct.htm

Public Comments

1. what did you expect? royalties?
2. This crime happens throughout the world, not just Russia. America is doing what it can to stop it, however not all the governments are co-operating. Software is copied and sold on street corners and law enforcement does nothing. We do have this problem in the US also. You can buy newly released movies from street venders in New York City. I'm sure they're available elsewhere also.
3. Although the US is the largest victim, other countries have been victimized of this as well. And though software is probably the biggest item, it is not luimited to that commodity either. Japanese cartoons, Korean dramas, and other countries' drugs and natural resources (P.S. the US is a routine violator of this), for example, have been victimized as well. The problems are numerous and deep: 1. There is no international law on copyright. It is being pushed aggressively by the US government through political and economic measures often viewed by other countries, officially or otherwise, as oppressive as well; 2. The big firm victims are seen as greedy giants who rake in the bucks at little operating cost, and; 3. Given the disparity in purchasing power and exchange rate as well as the physical and moral ease with which piracy can be made profitable, I'd be wondering why piracy isn't even MORE rampant (probably because of #1).