With respect to gunpowder, actually what we call 'black powder' in the US, the ancient Chinese invention was a different formula, mixture ratios I think, than the European version.

Basically, the difference, as I recall, was the Chinese version of black powder had a slower burn rate. expressed in feet per second, than the European black powder.

The Chinese version produces wonderful pyrotechnics while the European version, when used in guns, was great for war and killing.

I have more comments: Check the thread on copying IP.

Inventions are patented. Patents originated in common law countries. In the US, Patents used to be for 17 years while in most other countries it was 20 years. Now in the US, patents have a life of 20 years.

Copyright laws depend on what is being copyrighted. Life in the US is 70 years up from 28 years not too long ago. Exact life for books, music, written stuff is too complicated for me to keep up with. I copyrighted a paper on short term forecasting in high growth industries and allowed a couple of college text book writers to teach my method if I was given credit and a copy of the book.

Trademarks and trade dress are other IP subject to IPR laws as well.

China, interestingly, copyrights all it laws and regulations thus controlling use of and written discussion of, and hence teaching, of her laws and regulations.

You mean Chalmers Johnson, I think, not sure but maybe. Do you think?

above here:
www.afr.com/[...]

China and...

Zeng Jinrun, a columnist published by the hawkish Global Times website, said "If an Australian military aircraft arrives as planned, China should use Russia as an example and take bold action and send our military aircraft to drive it away," Mr Zeng wrote in the editorial. "If this does not work we should just shoot it down."