We also need to comply with laws in order to live in a civilized society. Where in the world are there no patents today and that also has any significant positive impact on society as does America and Europe? Europe does have software patents after all.
Where in the world are there no patents today and that also has any significant positive impact on society
Due to the Berne convention, we don't get to have that comparison. Although lots of people argue that China's weak enforcement of non-Chinese IP has had rather a positive influence on their industry.