America 1982

"Eighty million?" Jim looked at Robert Morley, his eyes full of disbelief: "Fuck eighty million? Are you sure you didn't accidentally write an extra zero when 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 revealed some secret information."

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

"Delia said that they received a piece of information provided by an anonymous employee of Lotus Company who has a sense of justice, which contains some software development logs and update plans of Lotus Company." Robert took off his glasses, lowered his head and wiped them slowly. Avoiding looking directly into 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 citizens' right to privacy. Only when the court is actually in session can the court personnel obtain authorization to disclose the anonymous person's identity with his or her consent. .”

Jim grabbed his crotch with his hand, made a pained expression, and then slammed his fist on the table: "Congratulations to Actor, you successfully grabbed Lotus's balls! Forcing Lotus to put the update and subsequent development progress on hold, Publicly... F*ck! I can’t say any more! I told those idiots to be on guard! Wouldn’t a nerdy engineer fucking betray the company?”

"Do you want to hear more exciting news?" Robert lowered his head and said to Jim: "I got the news through my contacts in the court. While Actor Company was negotiating a settlement with us, the court received 176 There are two amicus filings, all of which are non-profit legal advocacy groups. Not only do they all support Actor, but they also request the court to expedite the handling of this case."

Jim's eyes widened and he stared at Robert: "Fifteen politicians are going up against one hundred and seventy-six non-profit organizations. You can figure it out with your ass. If my fifteen politician friends do anything after they submit the intervention documents, After receiving this news, he would greet me with all kinds of indescribable words. This is a beautiful move. I also want to thank the actor for being merciful to me and saving my own eggs, but at the same time, it also means that no politician is willing to If he accepts lobbying and public relations from Lotus, he will not be aware of the consequences of being targeted by one hundred and seventy-six non-profit organizations."

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

"Those big companies in the software industry that are not idiots just have the opportunity to stand opposite Lotus and tear it up openly." Jim didn't need Robert to remind him, and he said it himself:

"One hundred and seventy-six non-profit organizations, at least we know that the other party is not a bait for large companies, but has designed this trap ourselves. As long as a fool falls in, he will never be able to escape without being bitten off a big piece of fat."

"The idea of ​​the precedent that the other party wants to obtain has roughly surfaced. The United States seems to have various terms and conditions for intellectual property rights and patent protection in the computer industry, but in fact it is only at the state level. Currently, all computer industries are targeting 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 accumulated behind it to appeal the case to the Supreme Court and use its influence to obtain precedents. , because states may have their own patent laws, but not at the federal level, you know what I mean? This case will definitely be the most mentioned case by software industry giants and the U.S. Congress in the next five to ten years." Robert Mo Lee rubbed his eyebrows, put his glasses back on his face, raised his head and said to Jim.

Jim picked up the water glass and took a sip. After finishing the drink, he said, "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 another subdivision of patent law supervision power for each state. This supervision power will always exist until specific laws are introduced. To put it bluntly, this is a lawsuit that both major industry companies and members of Congress like to hear about. It means that Congress and the Supreme Court can use this precedent to tell states that there is room for supplements to the patent laws in your states. Who will supplement it? Of course it is Congress, and then That is, software companies no longer need to consider the provisions of state laws on patents and the like, because they are not complete enough, and Congress is responsible for formulating this standard. Before the law is enacted, if they encounter similar lawsuits, they only need to pay lobbying companies to contact members of Congress. I can help you stand up. Standards 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 the opportunity to use their regulatory power to earn enough benefits, so they have no interest in promulgating laws. Industry giants and members of Congress are not interested in promulgating laws. Thanks to the Actor company, it sacrificed Lotus and successfully helped the real giants in this industry to open up a path for them to make peace with politicians and take advantage of the opportunity to expand, at least until the law is introduced, Congress has the regulatory power, and the United States The rights granted to Congress by the Constitution are supreme over state laws." Robert explained to Jim why he could now conclude that this case would be a historic precedent:

“Use the influence of non-profit organizations to send the case to the Supreme Court. By then, the case will naturally appear on the desks of members of Congress. As long as they take a glance, they can smell the smell of blood and money and ink. , and at that time, the giants in the software industry will definitely get involved in this case, because Actor Company helped illuminate a path, and they can move to a better future as long as they step on Lotus Company's corpse."

Jim put down the water glass in his hand and looked at the layout of Robert's office with an excited expression on his face: "Except for the victim, everyone is fucking on his side. This is a cleverly conceived and highly intelligent robbery, or Pay the money obediently, or the murderer will send the victim to the gallows. In just half a year after leaving McKinsey \u0026 Company, I met three young geniuses. It’s just that Mickey and Jonathan were still typing code in the garage last year, but they are billionaires this year. computer genius, and this guy named Tommy Hawke is a fucking genius business robber who robs homes."

After finishing speaking, he stood up and put on his suit jacket: "I will go back to see Mitch and Jonathan and tell them to prepare for reconciliation."

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

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

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

…

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

There was no excitement on Jim's face at this time. He just looked calmly at Jonathan who was questioning him. There was no excitement as he had just come back to tell the two of them about the entire case and Tommy Hawke's methods, because after he finished explaining, Jonathan, the The idiot is still angry, which makes Jim completely confused about what he is angry about?

The two of them should be as excited as themselves, full of fire, and 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 did not believe in him at all, and felt that he was making a fuss and exaggerating the threat to show his importance in the company. It didn't matter, he had already given it anyway. If they were willing to go to the gallows themselves, Jim would certainly respect 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 or concept of good and evil. Every company may be a murderer, 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, the information Robert has is detailed enough, we have no chance, the other party is a robber who silently wiped his dagger in the dark, observed us for a long time, and then suddenly appeared in front of us, The dagger is put at our throats, telling us that we must either pay up or he can kill Lotus in the name of eliminating harm for the people, while those ignorant bystanders will only clap their hands and applaud, while other participants in the darkness take the opportunity to amass wealth."

"Even if we lose, the Lotus company will not die. Mickey, do you believe Jim's words? If Lotus doesn't agree, it will eventually close down or suffer heavy losses." Jonathan turned to look at his companion Mickey, his tone full of disdain for Jim. disdain.

"Industry standards bypass the various products launched by Lotus now and in the future. In business activities, this behavior is called a walled garden. No matter how big a company is, when it is outside the industry ecological environment and standards, it is just a walled garden. As a small isolated island, because of mutual incompatibility and lack of interoperability, Lotus receives countless lawyer letters from other companies every time it updates, reminding Lotus that if they dare to find any issues involving industry patents, you will be punished. Waiting to be mobbed again." Jim bit the straw and took a sip of Coke:

"The end result is that if Lotus wants to continue to make money in the software industry, it will have to spend more money to break down the garden wall. I think by then, Lotus will have to pay far more than 80 million."

Jonathan sneered and looked at Jim: "Jim, you know, what you say is bullshit! You are the same person as that bastard from Actor Company. You think people like us who only know technology and only know how to read are easily intimidated. Come, just threaten us with a few words, and we will throw away the 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 to blackmailers like you penny!"

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

"Jim, why don't you take a vacation and rest..." Mickey had been listening to the two people talking without speaking. At this time, when he heard Jonathan tearing up his face, he could only raise his head, sigh and say to Jim Manz.

Jim extinguished the little flame of hope in his heart and interrupted Mitch Kapoor in a crisp tone: "Forget it, Mitch, there is no need for a holiday. I resign. I guess since you can tell me to take a holiday, it proves that you found I have to find someone who can replace me. It’s a pity that I haven’t been able to work at Lotus for a full year and get the shares you promised. I don’t blame you. I can only blame Tommy Hawke for taking action too early, that’s all.”

"Jim, if you are willing to help..." Mickey pursed his lips and showed a polite smile, trying to retain the vice president he originally invited.

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

"You fucking said you trust me before! This is your trust! Between me and your stupid* companion! Always choose the stupid* one!"

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 graduated from Harvard Business School and previously worked at Goldman Sachs and IBM." Mickey said to Jim Manz: "Jim, we are grateful to you..."

"No need to thank me anymore. Remember the last advice I gave you. Take the time to write a will for Lotus! That waste, who is supported by Goldman Sachs with a high salary based on the name of the Kennedy family and is responsible for public relations when necessary, can't do anything. "Although the 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 will make money once or for five to ten years." Jim walked out of the door without stopping. Striding away:

"This ship is sinking, bye."

Second update