Reborn in 1977

Although the time for Chinese character cards to enter the domestic market is not yet ripe, it is only temporary.

Whether it's deciding to import or independently develop, once the country starts to value personal computers, it will be the time for Chinese character cards to take off.

Thinking of this, Chen Fan couldn't help but say, "Old uncle, how did you negotiate with the domestic side regarding patents?"

Zhou Zhengdong leisurely picked up his teacup and took a sip, without even raising his head, he said, "No negotiation."

Chen Fan blinked, "Huh?"

Zhou Zhengdong smiled and said, "I've been in contact with people here, and in terms of intellectual property rights, they can basically be divided into two types: the first type, completely不懂 [don't understand]; the second type, 懂 [understand], but don't value it."

He raised his head and looked at Chen Fan, smiling softly, "Actually, I can understand this situation very well. The United States didn't value intellectual property rights from the very beginning, or rather, they also had a period of deliberately condoning it.

Otherwise, how could they freely use the technologies invented by European countries?

It was only later, when capital and the market had needs, that intellectual property rights were valued and became one of the most important rules of the game in Western countries."

He spread his hands and said, "And now, China is poor and technologically behind the West. If intellectual property rights are strictly controlled at this time, it is actually unfavorable."

After a two-second pause, he picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea, then lit a cigarette, frowned, and gently exhaled a puff of smoke, "Regarding this situation, I will carefully consider how to communicate with Western companies. Perhaps, the 'market' will be a decisive weight."

After he finished speaking, Chen Fan took a deep breath, his eyes rolled slightly, and then he said to Zhou Yali, "Chinese character cards must be based on computers to function. You should first focus on the expansion of Chinese character cards in overseas markets, but at the same time, pay attention to the development of personal computers in China.

We can ignore the patent situation, but we can't miss out on all the profits."

Zhou Yali instantly understood his meaning, "When the country starts to import personal computers on a large scale, or starts the construction of personal computer factories, I will prepare to import Chinese character cards into the mainland, or at least form a joint venture with the mainland. Even if we can't build a factory, setting up a specialized agency company is also possible."

Based on the current situation, she doesn't know when foreign-funded factories can be established, even if it's just a joint venture. There is also another thing, that is, the technical conditions of the Chinese character card factory, and related equipment, I don't know if it can be resolved.

Although an announcement has been issued and diplomatic relations have been established, the United States has never said that it will remove China from the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (CoCom) list.

Well, shouldn't everyone know what CoCom does?

Therefore, neither Zhou Yali nor Zhou Zhengdong has any confidence in this matter, let alone the certainty of success.

Perhaps only after giants like IBM or Motorola take the lead, with examples in front, will other companies have the possibility of operating.

Chen Fan rubbed his face, knowing that Chinese character cards can only be like this for the time being.

In fact, it doesn't matter even if we can't build a factory in China… … Uh, from the perspective of domestic technology, although the Chinese character card is the patent of American friendly companies, if we really want to produce it… … , in Zhou Zhengdong's words, what is a patent?!

So he didn't bother to worry about it. When the time comes, everyone will rely on their own abilities, there is nothing to say.

As long as we hold this patent in our hands, when the Internet era arrives, the Chinese character card and the technological achievements formed by future iterations can naturally be transformed into the company's foundation and bring huge profits.

If a domestic company independently produces Chinese character cards and independently develops technology, that would be even better.

When the country starts negotiations to join the World Trade Organization, and intellectual property rights must be standardized, a lawsuit will automatically make all manufacturers' related technological achievements become their own company's.

People who can see the future are so calm.

In comparison, Chen Fan values something else more.

He looked at Zhou Yali and asked, "How is the multi-protocol router going?"

When Zhou Yali heard this, a smile immediately appeared on her face, "After completing the design of the Chinese character card, Dr. Engelbart immediately started the research work on this project and formed a team of more than thirty people.

With the financial support from the sales of Chinese character cards, the research is going very smoothly.

Before we came here, he also told me that the progress is very fast, it will take a year at the slowest, and half a year at the fastest, to complete the product development."

After a pause, a few hesitations flashed in her eyes, "But the promotion work, we haven't had any ideas yet."

Just like Dr. Engelbart invented the mouse, but could only put it on a high shelf and finally sell it to Apple, even if he develops a multi-protocol router, but if there is no application space, this thing cannot realize its value.

The reason why Cisco became an instant hit was that the two inventors were both professors at Stanford University, one was the director of the computer center of the computer science department, and the other was the director of the computer center of the business school. They could use their positions to apply this invention to the campus network of Stanford University.

And Stanford University's position in the American computer industry is self-evident.

Under this circumstance, this technology can be applied in the first time and attract the attention of the industry and even the government.

If it were a small Chinese company, even if the inventor is the so-called father of the mouse, who would care?!

Chen Fan touched his head, exhaled a long breath, raised his head and smiled, "It's okay, let's get the thing out first, as long as we have good things in our hands, and firmly grasp the patent in our hands, we are not afraid of not finding someone who knows the value of the goods."

At worst, we will hire a batch of salesmen and go around selling them from house to house.

Well, the first one will go to Stanford.

After chatting about work, Zhou Zhengdong supported his teacup with one hand and held a cigarette with the other, and said with a smile, "Xiao Fan, I have something to tell you, which can also be regarded as asking you to be a witness."

Chen Fan dusted off the cigarette ash, "Okay, please tell me."

Zhou Zhengdong turned his head to look at his daughter, turned back, and said with a smile, "In the past, the Zhou family only had one heir, that is Yali. Now that your aunt is pregnant again, and it has been checked in the hospital, it is confirmed to be a boy, so the arrangement of the Zhou family's group company property needs to be adjusted."

After a two-second pause, he continued, "The Zhou family is different from many Chinese families. Most Chinese families generally do not advocate dividing the family in order to maintain the integrity of the family.

But daughters always have to marry, and daughters are also a member of the family, so when your grandfather was still alive, he set a rule that daughters also have the right to inherit, and when they get married, a part of the family property is divided out and given as dowry.

So, after confirming that Yali has a younger brother, I started to strip the family property, dividing it into three parts. One part belongs to your mother, one part belongs to Yali, and the last part is the business retained by the Zhou family."

Hearing this, Chen Fan looked at the two of them, silently took a puff of cigarette, and did not speak.

He said last time that he didn't want it, but Zhou Zhengdong insisted on doing so, and this part of the family property was not handed over to him, so there is no need to say more.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Zhou Zhengdong smiled with satisfaction and continued, "Actually, almost 90% of the business has been retained, and what has been stripped out is basically floating wealth and unimportant business parts.

Now the company's business is roughly unchanged, the only change is that I completely transferred the publishing company to Yali, and injected 10 million US dollars of funds, which belongs to you two, and you each have half of the shares.

I've prepared a legal document stating that your half of the shares will be temporarily held by Yali, but the basic documents clearly state that you are the owner of that half. It's not convenient to give you this document right now. When you have a chance to go to the United States, I'll give it to you, and you can put it in a bank safe deposit box. That way, we'll be completely safe.

On another note, I'm going to fund the technology company that you two are partnering to create. The Hanka and the multi-protocol router you mentioned will both be included in this company. Here's what I'm thinking…

At this point, Zhou Zhengdong clicked his tongue, considered for a couple of seconds, and then continued, "You don't need to invest any money. It'll be considered an investment of your ideas. All the funding needed to start the company will be covered by Yali through me. That will be considered her investment."

Then, in terms of shares, it'll be half and half. If there's a need to establish an options pool in the future, the diluted portion will be borne by both of you proportionally."

He looked at Chen Fan and asked seriously, "If you feel that anything is inappropriate, you can mention it now, and I'll make changes after I get back."

Chen Fan pursed his lips, looked at the two of them, and smiled, "I'm just talking, and I'm already getting half the shares. Isn't that too much?"

People who invest with technology usually don't get more than 30% of the shares, and he's just offering a simple suggestion. He hasn't done anything, but he's getting half.

Frankly, if this weren't his uncle, it would be absolutely impossible.

Furthermore, if it weren't for them, even if Chen Fan had more ideas, he wouldn't be able to pocket this asset. It would only become public property, like the two cars, and add a minor, insignificant accomplishment to his resume.

It might not even be valued by the higher-ups. It's very likely that it would end up locked in a warehouse, gathering dust. By the time the internet reached China and the higher-ups remembered it, they would find that, because they hadn't registered an international patent, Cisco would invent and register it as expected, and the result would be a wasted effort.

There's no way around it. Compared to cars, electronic products were indeed not valued at this time. This isn't something Chen Fan could change on his own. Even the members of the academic department, which are now called academicians, couldn't do anything. What could he do?

After Chen Fan finished speaking, before Zhou Zhengdong could say anything, Zhou Yali retorted, "Are you really planning to be so calculating with your own brother? That's enough. Are there any other issues?"

Chen Fan, "Uh, uh, no."

Zhou Zhengdong chuckled, "Then that's settled. Oh, right, there's more."

Chen Fan widened his eyes, "What else is there?"

Zhou Yali said unhappily, "Profits, of course."

Zhou Zhengdong smiled and nodded, "I've opened a numbered account for you at the New York branch of the Swiss Bank. All future dividends will be transferred to this account. I'll give you the account information when you have a chance to go to the United States."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Yali whispered beside him, "Little brother, your novels have sold over two million copies in North America, with royalties exceeding $3.5 million. It's all been deposited into the account for you."

"However, you'll have to pay taxes on this money. But the European market is also starting up. Anyway, there's a lot of money, and my dad will find someone to help you with the tax matters. Just wait to collect the money."

Chen Fan opened his mouth, thought for a while, and said, "It's a bit of a waste to keep this money in the bank. Why don't you help me invest it?"

The income tax rate in the United States at this time is terrifyingly high, but investments and consumption can be used to offset tax deductions. So, even though Zhou Yali said that Zhou Zhengdong could handle the tax matters, he didn't want to leave the money in the bank to be deducted for nothing.

Investing it would not only avoid taxes but also increase its value. And the next 20 years will be the best 20 years for economic development in the United States, with the stock market soaring all the way. Buffett's main wealth growth was during this period. The investment risk is small, and the returns are high. Isn't that much better than keeping it in the bank?

When Zhou Zhengdong and the others heard Chen Fan's words, they couldn't help but look at each other, and then they looked at Chen Fan together, their faces full of surprise, "You even know about investing?"

Chen Fan shrugged helplessly, "I'm saying, why do you always think I'm ignorant? I've said it many times, I can see foreign journals in China, what's so strange about understanding investment?"

Zhou Yali laughed awkwardly twice, "Heh heh, I almost forgot."

Zhou Zhengdong also smiled, "The main thing is that the general environment in China is like this. It's really rare for someone in your situation to know a little bit about everything."

Zhou Yali quickly changed the subject and asked, "How do you want to invest? Stocks or real estate, or something else?"

Chen Fan smiled and didn't say much. He just said to Zhou Yali, "Apple computers are pretty good. Help me invest in Apple Computer stock."

Zhou Yali, "Uh, but Apple Computer hasn't gone public yet."

Chen Fan gestured a few times and smiled, "You can invest even if it hasn't gone public. It's venture capital…"

Before he could speak, Zhou Zhengdong waved his hand and said seriously, "Leave this matter to me. I guarantee that I'll convert it all into Apple stock."

If he couldn't even handle this small matter after entering the legal department of the Trade Representative's Office, then this Trade Representative would be too worthless. Just looking at the position, major investment banks would have to allocate a portion of the investment share. The only difference is the size of the share; they would never get nothing at all.

Besides, not everyone can see the future. If someone is willing to share the risk, they would be more than happy to.

After a pause, Zhou Zhengdong added, "However, the market has risks, and investments must be made with caution. If another company surpasses Apple, your investment may be in vain."

Chen Fan smiled and nodded, "It's okay, investing is like playing cards. Once you've placed your bet, you can't take it back. Win or lose, no regrets."

Zhou Zhengdong also smiled, "Alright, that's spirited."

He turned to look at Zhou Yali, "Then we'll use the old method and have you hold it on behalf of him?"

Zhou Yali felt that she didn't care about having more debts, "Sure."

She then rolled her eyes slightly, looked at Chen Fan, and asked, "Little brother, are there any other companies you're interested in investing in besides Apple?"

Chen Fan thought for a while, "I remember, Wang Laboratories is a public company, right?"

Zhou Yali turned to look at her dad, and Zhou Zhengdong nodded, "It's a public company, and it's a star stock. The company's operating conditions have always been good, and the dividends are also okay."

Chen Fan smiled, "Then, in the future, if there's more income, you can also buy some Wang Laboratories stock."

Zhou Zhengdong couldn't help but laugh, "You're just set on computer stocks."

Chen Fan shrugged and said, "Actually, besides computers, companies that make software are also good, like Microsoft."

Zhou Zhengdong was a little surprised, "You even know about Microsoft?"

Before Chen Fan could speak, he waved his hand, "I know, you saw it in a journal. Okay, I'll remember it."

There are only three companies in total; it's hard not to remember them.

Chen Fan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and let out a long breath.

He really wanted to directly buy DOS. Back then, Bill Gates only spent a few hundred thousand dollars to buy the DOS system. With his current assets, he could buy ten of them at once.

But it's still the same saying: the value of something doesn't depend on the thing itself, but on who holds it.

Bill Gates' mother was a director at IBM. Only someone with that kind of status could easily get orders from IBM and become the foundation for Microsoft's rise.

If it were the Zhou family, ahem, it would be better for the company to make a new one themselves. So, he still has to invest in Microsoft, even if it's just a small shrimp right now.