Joe Lonsdale Urges Startups to Forgo Patents Against China IP Theft, Citing Broken US System
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 13
Joe Lonsdale Urges Startups to Forgo Patents Against China IP Theft, Citing Broken US System
1 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 13
Summary
Joe Lonsdale said US AI and life-science startups should consider skipping patent filings because Chinese actors are using them to appropriate intellectual property.
On Bloomberg TV Monday, the 8VC founder said China is actively reviewing US patent applications to extract technical knowledge for commercial use.
Lonsdale argued the US Patent and Trademark Office is "completely broken," framing the patent system as a vulnerability rather than a safeguard for early-stage companies.
The warning spotlights a broader tension for US startups: patents can protect inventions at home while also exposing sensitive details to overseas competitors.