American Entertainment 1982

"Eighty million?" Jim looked at Robert Morley, his eyes full of disbelief: "Fucking eighty million? Are you sure you didn't accidentally write an extra zero when you were recording? And there is still 30% shares?"

Robert Morley looked directly at his old friend for many years and shook his head slightly: "In addition to giving this absolutely impossible condition, the other party also secretly revealed some news."

Jim narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he sensed the danger coming: "I hope it's not what I thought of, the news about Lotus."

"Delia said that they received a piece of information provided by an anonymous employee of Lotus with a sense of justice, which contained some of Lotus's software development logs and update plans." Robert took off his glasses, lowered his head and slowly wiped them, Avoiding Jim's eyes, he said:

"The other party can provide some data for us to verify, but refuses to provide more detailed content. The constitution protects the privacy of citizens. Only when the court is actually held, the people in the court can obtain authorization to disclose his identity with the consent of the anonymous person. .”

Jim grabbed his crotch with his hands, made a painful expression, and then slammed his fist on the table: "Congratulations, Actor, successfully grabbed Lotus's balls! Forcing Lotus to shelve updates and follow-up development progress with Public... F*ck! I can't go on! I told those idiots to be on guard! Nerdy engineers won't fucking sell out the company?"

"Want to hear more exciting news?" Robert lowered his head and said to Jim: "I got a piece of news through my contacts in the court. While Actor Company was negotiating a settlement with us, the court received 176 amicus curiae filings, all non-profit legal advocacy groups, who not only all support Actor, but are asking the court to expedite this case."

Jim stared at Robert with his eyes wide open: "Fifteen politicians confronted one hundred and seventy-six non-profit organizations. I want to know with my ass. When I get this news, I will greet me with all kinds of indescribable words. This move is really beautiful. I also want to thank Actor for being merciful to me and keeping my own eggs. But at the same time, it also means that no politician is willing to Then accept the lobbying and public relations of Lotus, unless he is not aware of the consequences of being targeted by 176 non-profit organizations."

Robert sighed: "The other party showed their cards and bet all their chips. Either pay them 80 million and 30%, or wait for the other party to counterclaim. At that time..."

"The big companies in the software industry who are not idiots just have the opportunity to stand opposite Lotus and tear it up." Jim said without Robert reminding him:

"One hundred and seventy-six non-profit organizations, at least we know that the other party is not the bait of a big company, but designed this trap by ourselves. As long as a fool falls into it, it will definitely not be able to get out without being bitten by a large piece of fat."

"The idea of ​​the case that the other party wants to obtain has generally surfaced. The United States seems to have various terms and conditions for the protection of intellectual property rights and patents in the computer industry, but in fact it is only at the state level. At present, all computer industries are concerned with patents or Intellectual property litigation relies on state laws, or the Supreme Court uses intellectual property law precedents and similar judgments as the main basis. The other party will definitely rely on the huge power behind it to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. , because the states may have their own patent laws, but not at the federal level, you know what I mean? This case must be enough to be the most mentioned case in the next five to ten years by the software industry and the United States Congress.” Robert Moore Leigh rubbed the center of his brows, put his glasses back on his face, raised his head and said to Jim.

Jim picked up the water glass, drank it, and said after drinking it: "Because of this case, the computer software industry has introduced relevant legal provisions?"

"It's not just that, Jim, let me tell you what it means. It means that the U.S. Congress has obtained a subdivision of patent law supervision power for each state. Before the specific laws are introduced, this supervision power will always exist until To put it bluntly, this is a lawsuit that big companies and members of Congress love to hear. It means that Congress and the Supreme Court can use this case to tell the states that there is still room for supplementary patent laws in your states. Who will supplement them? Of course Congress, and then That is, software companies no longer need to consider the state laws on patents and other regulations, because it is not complete, and Congress is responsible for formulating this standard. Before the law is issued, if they encounter similar lawsuits, they only need to use money to find lobbying companies and members of Congress. It’s enough to help you stand up, and the standard can be introduced first, but I guess the specific legal provisions will not appear in five to ten years. Members of Congress will not take advantage of the opportunity to use regulatory power to earn enough benefits, so they are not interested in introducing laws. Industry giants, members of Congress I would like to thank the Actor company, which used Lotus as a sacrifice, and successfully helped the real giants in this industry to open up a path that can make peace with politicians in a fair manner, and take the opportunity to expand aggressively, at least before the introduction of the law, the regulatory power of Congress, the United States The power given to Congress by the Constitution overrides the laws of the states and is supreme." Robert explained to Jim why he can now determine that this case must be a historic precedent:

"Use the influence of a non-profit organization to send a case to the Supreme Court. At that time, this case will naturally appear on the desks of members of Congress. As long as they look at it, they can smell the smell of blood and banknote ink. , and at that time, the giants in the software industry will definitely intervene in this case, because Actor has helped to light a path, and as long as they step on the corpse of Lotus, they can go to a better future."

Jim put down the water glass in his hand, looked at the layout of Robert's office, with an excited expression on his face: "Except for the victim, everyone is on his side, this is a well-conceived high-IQ robbery, or Obediently pay the money, or the murderer will send the victim to the gallows. In just half a year after leaving McKinsey, I met three young geniuses, but Mickey and Jonathan were still coding in the garage last year, and this year they are billionaires. computer genius, and this Tommy Hawke is a fucking genius business robber who robs houses."

After finishing speaking, he stood up and put on his suit jacket: "I'll go back to see Mitch and Jonathan and tell them that I'm ready to accept the settlement."

"Will those two... talented engineers who are obsessed with technology agree?" Robert asked curiously.

"Of course I will agree. If we buy Actor for 80 million yuan, we can repackage it and let it help us use this trick against other companies. Then we will gain more." Jim said with affirmation:

"If they don't object, I even hope that they will use 30% of the shares to buy Tommy Hawke, the real man behind the scenes."

...

"I don't agree!" Jonathan, the chief technology officer and co-founder of Lotus, said angrily: "They copied us and blackmailed us, and you, as our vice president of business, actually suggested that the company obediently pay those blackmailers?!"

There was no excitement on Jim's face at this time, but he just looked at Jonathan who questioned himself calmly, without the excitement of Tommy Hawke who just came back and told the whole case to the two, because after he explained it, Jonathan this Silly* is still angry, which makes Jim completely confused about what he is angry about?

The two of them should be as excited as they are, and they should quickly decide to buy the Actor company, and then use this trick to deal with other companies and make more money.

At this time, the performance of these two nerds made Jim already have a result in his mind, that is, they didn't believe in themselves at all, and felt that they were making a fuss and exaggerating the threat in order to reflect their importance in the company. The advice that can be given, if they are willing to go to the gallows, Jim certainly respects their choice.

But seeing Jonathan staring at him fiercely, waiting for his response, Jim could only say calmly:

"Yes, this is the business world. There is no law and concept of good and evil. Every company may be a murderer, and every company may be a lamb, but this time the lamb is Lotus, but I think 80 million to buy Actor Company, no problem, I made it very clear, Jonathan, Robert has enough detailed information, we have no chance. With the dagger at our throats, telling us to pay our bills, or he kills the Lotus in the name of killing the people, while the ignorant bystanders just applaud, while other dark players take the opportunity to amass riches."

"Even if we lose, Lotus will not die. Mitch, do you believe what Jim said? If Lotus doesn't agree, it will eventually close down or suffer heavy losses." Jonathan turned his head to look at his companion Mitch, his tone full of criticism to Jim. disdain.

"The industry standard bypasses the various products launched by Lotus at present and in the future. In commercial activities, this behavior is called a walled garden. No matter how big a company is, when it dissociates from the industry's ecological environment and standards, it is just a building. Small isolated islands, because they are incompatible with each other and have no interoperability, every time Lotus company updates, it will receive countless lawyer letters from other companies, reminding Lotus that if you dare to let them discover any problems involving industry patents, you will Waiting to be mobbed again." Jim bit the straw and took a sip of Coke:

"The final result is that if Lotus wants to continue to make money in the software industry, it has to spend more money to break the garden wall. I think that at that time, Lotus paid far more than 80 million."

Jonathan looked at Jim with a sneer: "Jim, you know, what you are talking about is bullshit! You are the same person as that bastard from the Actor company. You think people like us who only understand technology and only know how to read are easily scared Come on, just scare us with a few words, we will throw money in fear to avoid being tortured, but I tell you, it will not happen again! I have tens of millions in my bank account, but I will never pay you blackmailers penny!"

"What do you think? Mickey?" Jim bit the straw, rolled his eyes, and looked at Mickey Kapoor, who hadn't expressed his opinion before.

"Jim, why don't you take a break..." Mickey kept listening to the two talking without opening his mouth. Hearing Jonathan tearing his face, he could only raise his head and sighed to Jim Manzi.

Jim snuffed out the little flame of hope in his heart, and interrupted Mitch Kapoor in a straightforward tone: "Forget it, Mitch, I don't need a vacation, I resign, I guess since you can tell me to take a vacation, it proves that you found In order to replace me, it is a pity that I did not work in Lotus for a full year and get the shares you promised. It is not your fault, but Tommy Hawke who started too early, that's all."

"Jim, if you're willing to help..." Mitch pursed his lips and smiled politely, trying to keep the vice president he had invited.

"No ifs, I can't fucking lose fifteen politician friends because of this shit lawsuit! Understand! No matter how much money I have, I won't give up those contacts." Jim took two steps towards the door, then turned back He walked quickly to the desk, grabbed the tabletop vigorously, and glared at Mickey:

"You said you fucking trusted me before! That's your trust! Between me and your stupid *mate! Always choose that stupid *!"

After he finished scolding, he took a few deep breaths: "Well, at least before I leave, you should tell me who will take over my job."

"Byron Kennedy, who graduated from Harvard Business School and worked in Goldman Sachs and IBM before." Mitch said to Jim Manzi: "Jim, we appreciate you..."

"Don't thank me, remember the last advice I gave you, and hurry up to write the will for Lotus! That trash who is supported by Goldman Sachs with a high salary on the basis of the Kennedy family name, and is in charge of public relations when necessary can't do anything Although members of Congress are all idiots, they will not pay attention to his public relations this time. After all, no matter how stupid they are, they still know whether they can make money once or five to ten years." Jim walked out the door without stopping. stride:

"The ship is sinking, bye."

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