It was interesting to see with my own eyes the consistent disregard for intellectual property in places as modern as HK and Taipei. I haven't seen any questionable VCD shops in Tokyo, but maybe I'm looking in the wrong places.

There's an article on Economist.com about intellectual property & poorer countries that is a good summary of where things are at right now. Countries that join the WTO sign into a deal where-in they must strengthen their IP laws. Once again, the developed protect themselves at the expense of the developing. Most poor countries don't have the capital to build the infrastructure for supporting IP laws. Dollars will get diverted to address IP when in fact much more pressing problems may exsist in the developing country. Good times.