Look at the US during the 1800s freely "borrowing" stuff from the UK, which was then the world leader in IP development.

All "developing" nations don't (and shouldn't) GAF about IPRs during that phase in their development. Notice that China didn't GAF for years, but does now, both from a control POV and from a competition POV.

Countries only worry about IPRs when they have sufficient IP development to have something to sell.