Hackers steal $US160 billion ($208 billion) worth of intellectual property from Western companies every year, according to cyber-security experts. The damage, they say, is incalculable and Western governments have made it a priority to protect their nations' commercial assets.

But try telling that to Donald McGurk, chief executive of Adelaide-based communications, metal detection and mining technology firm Codan, who has watched sales and prices of his firm's metal detectors collapse since Chinese hackers stole its designs three years ago to sell cheap imitations into Africa.

Codan's production in Adelaide: Chinese hackers stole the designs of its metal detectors. Credit:David Mariuz

With the Australian government wary of rocking the boat ahead of this month's historic signing of a free trade deal with China, McGurk says he was forced to hire a private investigative firm in China to stage a series of raids on counterfeit factories.

"They said you're on your own," McGurk said, referring to the Australian government officials he lobbied to help with his problem. The Australian government did not immediately respond to queries about Codan.