[fjtorres]

More general: Too many people arguing against IP rights "on principle" arepeople who never created anything worth copyrighting or patenting.

The typical curve on the matter is exemplified by the chinese position: for years, the Chinese government did nothing to protect foreign IP. Once their companies started developing original (and valuable) IP, suddenly China got real interested in protecting IP rights at home and abroad.

The same happened with the Manhattan publishing Houses: they had no respect for foreign copyright when their's had little to no foreign value. Once that changed they became copyright zealots to the extreme.

It's all a function of whose ox is getting gored and who is getting a free ride.
In Oracle vs Google? No clean hands, no heroes.

And, again: the story isn't over. This can still blowup in everybody's faces.
Both sides have deep pockets and despise each other.