Great sessions today with Dr. Whitaker! When you see him on campus or in town, be sure to thank him for his time. See also this recent related Wall Street Journal article that appeared, A Small Firm Takes on Chinese Pirates.

I want you to put yourself in his shoes trying to make a “pitch” to a government official in China to move forward with and support one of their “block and knock” raids. What would be your talking points? In thinking this over, also remember Dr. Morris’ history talk on resistance in China to giving the West another chance to carve it up like a melon — what things would you touch on and/or try to avoid in your pitch to this Chinese government official to convince him/her move forward and help you against one of their own countrymen? For those of you reading James McGregor’s, One Billion Customers, as a hint and for some ideas, be sure to check out Chapter 4 in his book (Dancing with the Dinosaurs).

Also, I want you to give some thought to why IP violations in China are so difficult for the Chinese government to deal with and shut down. Why is this the case? What are the political, economic and social barriers to China doing so? (Here, don’t focus on the Confucian reason often given by the West of “it’s a complement to be copied” — rather, focus on the possible political, economic and social constraints. I think the Conufucian reason stated by many Westerners is a red herring because Confucianism really states the the complete man/women emulates behavior of high moral integrity and character and I am not sure that copying someone else’s work fits that bill).

Finally, for those who also had the good fortune to be in Dr. Anderson’s class and hear Dr. Whitaker talk about lobbying, you were able to see a facet of the cold, harsh reality and landscape of American politics and our system. While in China, when we visit an English Corner, you will likely be asked by one of the locals whether you think the US or Chinese “system” is better. Most of Americans will say, “the US, of course”, but then you will be asked why. If you then give the normal American easy out answer of “we have more freedom” they will push you on that, and then ask “what is freedom?” and “what makes you think we don’t have that (freedom) in China”? What will you tell them in response to both questions that is credible, true, and sincere? Relatedly, an American who has lived in China (Hangzhou) for the last 5 years, Mark Jones, has also done a lengthy, very insightful and thought-provoking peace on freedom, governance and the development of a civil society in China that I would encourage you to read. Though I may not agree with all of his points and a few things he mentions do not match up with my own experience in China, I still thought he made some great points that have caused me to rethink some of my own perceptions and biases re: China and the West. What he writes will also help get you inside the head of the Chinese and better see and undertand how they see the world (including the US) and certain issues (and many thanks to the China Law Blog for bringing my attention to this post by Mark Jones).