Corporate espionage is ever present but it is criminalized. The only time US as a country did that you can say "stole IP" was after WII when it took Nazi rocket scientists and technology. China is the opposite; stealing tech is done by the state apparatus (same was done by USSR and reverse engineering computers for example).

Frankly I'm not surprised that this is done, probably if US was so behind it would have done the same to reduce the gap. Everyone is trying to survive and outsmart and outwit the other, instead of collaborating.

You are mistaken about American intellectual property theft. They engaged in extensive IP theft from Britain in the 18th and 19th century with the encouragement of the government. See https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/the-spies-who-...

Also during World War I the American government seized German chemical patents thereby launching the American chemical industry. So that is an example of theft by the state apparatus.

I'm talking about modern times, after WW2. Not when US had slavery and lynching, blacks was a form of entertainment.

After it took over and solidified itself as the world leader at it of course there was no need to steal IP anymore, most of it is registered there already and to the benefit of their nation. I'm sure people a hundred years from now will be having similar conversations if china or someone else takes the us's place and naturally starts caring about IP(and the runner ups stop caring).

Negative.

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/the-spies-who-...

https://yawboadu.substack.com/p/stealing-success-how-ip-thef...

https://ipwatchdog.com/2017/07/05/americas-industrial-revolu...

NSA 'engaged in industrial espionage' - Snowden (2014)

https://www.bbc.com/news/25907502

No, they haven't! https://apnews.com/general-news-b40414d22f2248428ce11ff36b88...