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Former Google VP Kai-Fu Lee Got a Nickname, Start-Copy Lee

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Re: Former Google VP Kai-Fu Lee Got a Nickname, Start-Copy Lee

#2

Post by Hipchan »

As much as it pains me as a person who values intellectual property, I have to admit that copying is a valid and important strategy. At least half (anyone know of a more educated number?) of the development in Asia since the Meji Restoration consists of pasting Western ideas.

I hope this means that all startups take the internationalization seriously from the beginning. Hopefully we can get some sort of solid services / startups / processes that can help internationalize companies much earlier on.

The current crop of localization services are frankly inadequate.

Re: Former Google VP Kai-Fu Lee Got a Nickname, Start-Copy Lee

#3

Post by tyng »

I'm not against stealing ideas and methods from other companies, internalising them then IMPROVE upon them. That's part of innovation.

But blatant copying?! Even the UI?! C'mon Kai-fu, I'm sure Innovation Work can do better than that. The whole purpose of Innovation Work (which is itself a copy of YC, for those of you who don't know) is to spur entrepreneurialism in the region, but all I see is setting up a very bad example. I can't imagine how the founders feel OWNERSHIP in their startups. It's more like a gold rush.

Re: Former Google VP Kai-Fu Lee Got a Nickname, Start-Copy Lee

#5

Post by elq »

barista wrote: post #4

This guy was formerly at MSFT. The same guy who when quit, Ballmer threw a chair at him. Not sure if he was worth the chair now. http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2005/09/1106.ars

did you read that link? Balmer went nuts when http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Lucovsky quit

Re: Former Google VP Kai-Fu Lee Got a Nickname, Start-Copy Lee

#6

Post by iantimothy »

I can't remember where I got this quote from, but early on I learned that there are basically three ways to beat the US in technology:

1. The Japanese Way - Innovate By Leapfrogging. 2. The Indian Way - Innovate By Piggybacking. 3. The Chinese Way - Innovate By Copying.

Looking at how things have been over the years, China isn't going to stop a strategy that has worked across industries.

Re: Former Google VP Kai-Fu Lee Got a Nickname, Start-Copy Lee

#7

Post by plinkplonk »

iantimothy wrote: post #6

I can't remember where I got this quote from, but early on I learned that there are basically three ways to beat the US in technology: 1. The Japanese Way - Innovate By Leapfrogging. 2. The Indian Way - Innovate By Piggybacking. 3. The Chinese Way - Innovate By Copying. Looking at how things have been over the years, China isn't going to stop a strategy that has worked across industries.

"I can't remember where I got this quote from, "

probably this paper?( by the Lemelson-MIT program - warning pdf) http://web.mit.edu/invent/n-pressreleases/downloads/sustaina...

"Innovation to help achieve the goals of sustainable development can start in many ways, including: “copy-catting” (i.e. Japan, Korea and China first mimicking manufacturing techniques and then becoming world leaders.); “piggy-backing” (i.e. India performing service work for rich countries and adapting information technology to local needs); and “leap-frogging” (skipping over technologies that are inappropriate in a given place and time and adopting more sustainable solutions).

....................

“Copycats” imitate ideas, technologies and techniques from other countries and improve and adapt them. During its first few decades, the United States took the key secrets of the Industrial Revolution from England, Scotland and France and launched its own industrial economy. Two centuries later, Japan and then Korea developed by adapting American manufacturing, raising the quality and lowering costs. These days, China is doing it with much success, moving up the innovation ladder at a rapid rate.

“Piggybackers” ride on the backs of rich nations by doing more and more of their manufacturing and service work at far lower costs. India is practicing the art of piggybacking right now, using advanced computing and communications technologies to perform software development, tele-services, and even high-level innovation at a fraction of the labor costs compared to performing the same jobs in the United States or Western Europe. A recent study showed that one in ten U.S. software jobs will be exported to places like India and China over the next five years.

Finally, “leapfrogs” skip over inappropriate technologies and embrace new ones, such as Finland’s sudden break from Soviet domination and its rapid adoption and development of new inventions like wireless networks.

"

Re: Former Google VP Kai-Fu Lee Got a Nickname, Start-Copy Lee

#8

Post by iantimothy »

plinkplonk wrote: post #7
iantimothy wrote: post #6

I can't remember where I got this quote from, but early on I learned that there are basically three ways to beat the US in technology: 1. The Japanese Way - Innovate By Leapfrogging. 2. The Indian Way - Innovate By Piggybacking. 3. The Chinese Way - Innovate By Copying. Looking at how things have been over the years, China isn't going to stop a strategy that has worked across industries.

"I can't remember where I got this quote from, " probably this paper?( by the Lemelson-MIT program - warning pdf) http://web.mit.edu/invent/n-pressreleases/downloads/sustaina... "Innovation to help achieve the goals of sustainable development can start in many ways, including: “copy-catting” (i.e. Japan, Korea and China first mimicking manufacturing techniques and then becoming world leaders.); “piggy-backing” (i.e.…

Thanks for this!
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