They say it's patented but is the patent only in US Territories?

If that is the case...then whats preventing people from the rest of the world from stealing it?

A patent is a NATIONAL protection, other than the European Patent, which covers any country in which it is issued and fees paid.

If a patent is issued in the USA and not in China, there is nothing the US patent owners can do to prevent a Chinese company from making, using and selling it anywhere except the USA.

In fact, most patent applications are published 18 months after their filing date and valuable inventions are IMMEDIATELY copied and manufactured all over the world. Such abuse cannot be stopped until the patent is actually issued in a country where the illegal activities are taking place.

This is also often a good measure of a garbage patent, such as the one claiming to be a cure for AIDS, since absolutely NOBODY in any country has ever attempted to duplicate the so-called invention, even though there is no legal reason not to.

I think it depends on the product and the market.

I believe if a company in China steals your idea....they still can't sell the product in America if you have a patent. Since you don't have a patent in China..they are free to sell it there and wherever else you don't have one.

You may decide the market in China is not worth it...or other markets.

Plus different countries have different laws....Samsung vs apple ( iPhone). Different countries ruled differently.

You might not like the idea of someone stealing your idea and profiting...but is it worth the money to file the patent...will authorities cooperate with you in that foreign country....

depends on the patent. some are for the us only and some are north american wide.

They say it's patented but is the patent only in US Territories?

If that is the case...then whats preventing people from the rest of the world from stealing it?