Relational and product rents also accrue at the endogenous level of the location. These rents, however, do not benefit first movers. In the contrary: they obtain most knowledge globally, while their knowledge is (illegally) copied locally. But this process does enable knowledge to spread across firms. As product designs are copied, product rents are quickly shared across firms within the locality. The sector thus upgrades, as knowledge is shared within value chains and spills over across chains. Some firms actively try to protect designs in order to maintain their firm-level rents. Endogenous and exogenous rents have increased over time, as absorptive capacity of firms improved. Higher absorptive capacity enables firms to obtain higher economic rents.