China Steals Formula for Titianium Dioxide. Should Du Pont Have Just Given it to Them

**Chuckiechan** · August 29th, 2012, 11:13 AM

Guilty plea in theft of DuPont secrets for China - SFGate

Pangang employees "overtly appealed to my Chinese ethnicity and asked me to work for the good" of the People's Republic of China, Chao said.

Which in English means they threatened to send any Chinese relatives of this to work in the titanium mines unless he cooperated.

*******
The real question: Given that Du Pont is presumably an "evil corporation", and China wanted to be less harmful environmentally, was this theft for the "greater good" since no one was hurt. The only "injury" was financial to what are probably "1%'ers"? Should Mr. Chao be considered a hero?

Titanium dioxide is a bright white pigment used in paints and other products such as powders, paper and toothpaste. DuPont's chlorine-based process was eagerly sought by China, which used a less efficient and more environmentally harmful production method, according to court documents.

**Theophylact** · August 29th, 2012, 11:18 AM

The formula for Titanium Dioxide is TiO2. Arrest me.

**Chuckiechan** · August 29th, 2012, 11:27 AM

Having a "senior moment" is not a crime...

**Theophylact** · August 29th, 2012, 11:36 AM

Lucky for you, old guy.

**Whir** · August 29th, 2012, 01:55 PM

My question would be, did China really want to be more green, or did they want to save more green.

Grey morality-legality areas FTW.

**brandon184** · August 29th, 2012, 05:56 PM

Theft of trade secrets in some form or another happens every day between competing American companies. Why is this different?

I'm concerned about other things China does way more than I am concerned about this.

**Epidemic** · August 29th, 2012, 06:35 PM

China's theft of intellectual property costs American jobs increases trade deficit. It is a pretty big deal.

**Chuckiechan** · August 29th, 2012, 07:15 PM

Theft of trade secrets is a hugely profitable endeavor for the Chinese. They save something more important than money: Time. They don't have to waste time developing and testing competing products to determine the best one. They just steal one of ours.

This is where a president can work effectively - you add a levy to every pound of titanium oxide (heretofore called TiO2) that is produced by the stolen formula, and shipped anywhere in the world that has a pier requiring a manifest, giving triple damages to Du Pont. Hopefully, the Chinese will agree to cease using it, and play it straight.

If their workers want safer TiO2, let them buy it from Du Pont.

You collect at the Chinese import pier in Oakland or where ever. They will squeal like little girls, but that is just too damn bad.

We cannot afford to let the world steal us blind.

**pickel** · August 29th, 2012, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckiechan

If their workers want safer TiO2, let them buy it from Du Pont.

I'd be willing to give them my formula for Ex lax Brownies....FREE.

**thephilosophizer** · August 30th, 2012, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by Chuckiechan

Theft of trade secrets is a hugely profitable endeavor for the Chinese. They save something more important than money: Time. They don't have to waste time developing and testing competing products to determine the best one. They just steal one of ours.

This is where a president can work effectively - you add a levy to every pound of titanium oxide (heretofore called TiO2) that is produced by the stolen formula, and shipped anywhere in the world that has a pier requiring a manifest, giving triple damages to Du Pont. Hopefully, the Chinese will agree to cease using it, and play it straight.

If their workers want safer TiO2, let them buy it from Du Pont.

You collect at the Chinese import pier in Oakland or where ever. They will squeal like little girls, but that is just too damn bad.

We cannot afford to let the world steal us blind.

Agreed, as a country its own our national interest to protect the trade secrets of our companies and innovators. If we allow China, or anyone to steal such things with impunity, then we lose our edge, the thing America is best at, thinking things up. And we lose jobs, if the Chinese can steal from us, in order to make a proprietary product overseas, that very well can equate to lost jobs.

**tony_j15** · August 30th, 2012, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Chuckiechan

Theft of trade secrets is a hugely profitable endeavor for the Chinese. They save something more important than money: Time. They don't have to waste time developing and testing competing products to determine the best one. They just steal one of ours.

This is where a president can work effectively - you add a levy to every pound of titanium oxide (heretofore called TiO2) that is produced by the stolen formula, and shipped anywhere in the world that has a pier requiring a manifest, giving triple damages to Du Pont. Hopefully, the Chinese will agree to cease using it, and play it straight.

If their workers want safer TiO2, let them buy it from Du Pont.

You collect at the Chinese import pier in Oakland or where ever. They will squeal like little girls, but that is just too damn bad.

We cannot afford to let the world steal us blind.

I agree with Chuck!