Top of the Great Era

Chapter 3190 This is a public welfare project!

In some ways, what Zhou Buqi said was indeed true.

Even if Asda goes bankrupt, what will happen?

It won't have any impact on him.

But Samsung is in a different situation. Although Samsung is a giant in South Korea, its real core industry is Samsung Electronics, and Lee Jae-yong dare not make any mistakes in this regard.

If we really file a FRAND rate lawsuit with Ericsson in the UK and demand a ruling that Ericsson's charges are too high and unreasonable... even if we win the lawsuit, it will be several years later.

Samsung can't wait!

In the past few years of litigation, doesn't it mean that Samsung's self-developed chips can no longer be sold in developed markets? Isn't this equivalent to falling into Qualcomm's plan and cutting off its own way out? By the time the lawsuit is won in a few years, the self-developed chip business will have long been in a slump, and the flower and vegetable will be cold!
Li Zairong took a deep breath and smiled a smile that was uglier than crying. "When doing business, you should be rational and not act on impulse."

Zhou Buqi said coldly: "This is not an emotional act, this is a principle! You know about Hollywood, right? I even specially invited you to attend the charity dinner. So what about Hollywood? If you don't follow my rules, then we'll break up. No one can use their demands to restrict me!"

Lee Zairong knew how serious the Hollywood incident was last year, and that it did deal a severe blow to Apple in the end.

Because of that blow, Apple fell into a panic.

Ericsson took advantage of the situation and launched patent lawsuits against Apple in multiple countries.

In the commercial market, one move can really affect the entire body.

If he wasn't careful, a boomerang would hit him on the forehead.

"Going through legal proceedings is too slow and will seriously affect our mobile phone business." Lee Zairong had no choice but to lower his posture and plead, "The best strategy is to negotiate with Ericsson and resolve the differences through negotiation."

"Are you a Christian?"

Zhou Buqi asked in confusion, "South Korea is now a Christian country."

"Ah?" Li Zairong was slightly startled, "Yes, why?"

Zhou Buqi said, "It's a pity that I'm not like that. How can you repay kindness with evil? Jesus believed in suffering. If someone hits you on the left cheek, you should also turn your right cheek to him. I'm different. If anyone dares to hit me on the left cheek, I will cut off his hands and feet!"

Li Zairong was almost angry to death.

Never seen anything like this.

What happened to this person today?
It wasn’t like this before?
Zhou Buqi had no choice but to do this.

The only option is to resort to some rogue tactics.

Samsung's mobile phones are priced relatively high, and their profit margins are quite high, so paying a little patent fee is not a big deal. However, many low-end phones under Asda are different. Many of them are priced at less than 1000 yuan, and there is no profit margin at all.

I really can't afford such expensive patent fees.

Another point.

All domestic mobile phone manufacturers do not pay patent fees. If Asda had the business ethics to pay patent fees to Ericsson in accordance with the rules... the result would most likely be that bad money drives out good money.

In the fierce market of low-end mobile phones, commercial competition is all about seeing who is more ruthless and more rogue.

Don't be soft-hearted at this time!

Li Zairong said quickly, "No, no, this won't work. We still have to consider the market. Once a commotion breaks out, many models of mobile phones will be banned from sale in most countries, which will cause us huge losses. Isn't Esda preparing for a listing?"

Zhou Buqi said "hmm".

Li Zairong seized the opportunity and said quickly: "We must not engage in a tug-of-war with Ericsson. We must resolve the dispute quickly and then smoothly promote the listing of Esda. If the intellectual property lawsuits cause panic during the IPO process, many businesses will be in danger, which will cause great panic among investors and lead to the failure of the IPO."

Zhou Shaoning spoke up at this time and said, "You may have misunderstood. There will not be a long-term dispute between Estar and Ericsson. Ericsson is only targeting some MediaTek chips and some self-produced chips. Those mobile phone models using Qualcomm chips will not be affected. In most countries, our mobile phones use Qualcomm solutions, and our business will be very stable."

Lee Zairong didn't understand. "Are you just going to ignore the lawsuit against Ericsson?"

Zhou Shaoning sighed, "We want to manage it, but we can't. Their demands are too high and we can't afford it. In this case, we might as well cooperate with them and actively purchase Qualcomm chips in the future." Li Zairong was shocked, "You want to adjust your strategy? Are you going to give up the chip business?"

Zhou Shaoning said: "At least the self-developed chips will not be exported. In the domestic market, Ericsson probably cannot extend its hands so far."

Li Zairong frowned. "You are making mobile phones with self-developed chips in the mainland market? Are you going to ignore this infringement?"

"Infringement?" Zhou Shaoning's expression became serious. "No, you can't say that. Infringement of intellectual property rights must meet three conditions. First, it is within the validity period of the patent. Second, it is without permission. Third, it is for the purpose of profit. Domestic business does not meet these three conditions!"

"what?"

Li Zairong is a little unbelievable.

Zhou Shaoning said: "It is true that we have used the standard patents listed by Ericsson without their permission during their validity period. However, our purpose is not to make a profit. Estar's self-developed chips are all used in low-end phones. These phones are not sold for profit, but for the popularization of people's livelihood tools in the mobile Internet era. This is a social welfare project. We define this part of the business as public welfare, not commercial."

When these words were spoken, not to mention Li Zairong, even Zhou Buqi was a little stunned.

OK!

It still has to be you, Zhou Shaoning!

How shameless!
The sale of low-end phones is not business, but public welfare?

Great!

That’s awesome!

When judging patent infringement, the three conditions of "validity period", "without permission" and "for profit" must be met at the same time. If it is some learning, scientific research, or public welfare projects, which are not for profit, you can legally not pay patent fees.

Zhou Shaoning has found a lawless entry point.

If the low-end mobile phone business is really a public welfare, how can the domestic market be so fierce? There has never been such a life-and-death public welfare behavior in the world. If this is also considered a public welfare, then these people in the domestic mobile phone industry are all saints and bodhisattvas.

But this is always an excuse for negotiation.

Li Zairong was stunned and speechless.

When negotiating with Ericsson, we can also use this stance to argue with them and refuse to pay the patent fees.

When the domestic economy develops further, user spending power increases, and mainstream mobile phones move from the "thousand-yuan phone" era to the "two-thousand-yuan phone" era; when Asda's self-developed chips become popular and it is qualified to enter developed markets to make big money, then it can negotiate with Ericsson on patent issues.

With the current low-end phone business, mobile phone manufacturers simply cannot make any money, and many are operating at a loss.

No one will be suckered into paying patent fees.

This is also a natural law of Internet entrepreneurship. This is how the Silicon Valley giants rose to prominence.

First, find a project and rush into it without caring about copyrights, patents, industry rules, etc. If it fails, it fails; if it succeeds, when the company becomes bigger, you can hire the best lawyer to sue, negotiate the lawsuit and get a certain amount of compensation.

Li Zairong couldn't accept it at all, and looked at Zhou Buqi pitifully, "I think Samsung can have more extensive cooperation with Estar, including Ziweixing, Changyou, Kakao, Netflix, Universal Pictures, PayPal and other companies. I just approved a sponsorship order and bought the sleeve advertisement of Manchester United's jersey. The term is 6 years, and the total contract value reaches 5000 million pounds."

Zhou Buqi suppressed his laughter and said in a low voice, "Forget it, I will give in. Estar will stand with Samsung and negotiate with Ericsson!"

"Really?"

Li Zairong became excited immediately.

Zhou Buqi said: "However, we need a fair way of cooperation."

"How is it fair?"

Li Zairong had a bad feeling.

Zhou Buqi said: "It only applies to models priced above 200 US dollars. Models priced below 200 US dollars will not be included in the discussion. Among Samsung phones, the lowest price is also 200 US dollars, right? This is perfect. We can draw the line based on Samsung's standards. All Samsung phones and all Asda phones priced above 200 US dollars can be discussed with Ericsson to discuss the issue of patent fees."

Zhou Shaoning said seriously: "Yes, the scope must be planned. Astar will not confuse public welfare projects with commercial projects."