The Chinese legal system was poorly developed in the Imperial era and remained so in the People's Republic until the process of reform began in the 1980s. The authorities now recognise that a market economy requires the rule of law and that technology development and technology import in particular need firm legal foundations. Significant steps have been taken to protect technology as intellectual property and to support technology import. Nevertheless, an extended period of institution-building will be needed before the legal framework can be regarded as satisfactory. Furthermore, the authorities' desire to control technology import through regulations may restrict the efficiency with which the country acquires the know-how which it needs.