Well, we know that AMD at one point did in fact turn someone in to the authorities for attempting to sell them industrial espionage from Intel. I don't think it's as gloomy a picture as you are trying to paint.
http://www.brahmsmount.com/blog/american-textile-history/
I'm not defending industrial espionage, I'm merely pointing out that treating it as a grave and horrible thing is at odds with how important it's been historically.