By: Latha Jishnu

Ben-Atar, professor of history at Fordham University of New York, is among the more interesting thinkers I've met on intellectual property (IP) issues. Why did the history professor write Trade Secrets? Apart from the usual academic reasons, he says there was another compelling motive -- to remind Americans of their past so that they have a better understanding of why piracy is now happening in other parts of the world.

You won't get many people who will tell you that America's industrial might and prosperity is founded on theft and outright piracy. There is the odd person like Doron Ben-Atar who takes pains to remind the US -- and the world -- that not too long ago, the super power was merrily engaged in stealing trade secrets from Europe to build a fledgling nation that was technologically backward.

To continue reading this interesting article from Business Standard, click here.