giants of the era

Chapter 370 No patent is miserable
The day after Wall Street reported that Apple was valued at US$2000 billion, an executive director of Goldman Sachs suddenly called Li Zetian's home.

Li Zetian answered the phone and chatted with him.

"Mr. Li, Apple's valuation is so high now, have you ever thought about listing Apple on Nasdaq!" the executive director tentatively asked.

Li Zetian laughed.

The other party called, nothing more than thinking that if Apple goes public, Goldman Sachs can be the lead underwriter.

However, Li Zetian did not want to take Apple public.

Why do most companies go public, not mainly for financing?
But does Apple need it?

No need!

Since Li Zetian re-entered Apple, he immediately reversed the profit and loss. He has been profitable for many years and accumulated a lot of wealth.

In addition, with Apple's ability to make money, it is better not to go public, and Li Zetian can get huge dividends every year without giving it to other shareholders.

"I'm sorry, Apple has no plans to go public for the time being!!" Li Zetian decisively refused.

The executive director of the Goldman Sachs Group sighed slightly, as if he had already guessed that this would be the case, so he didn't force it, and ended the conversation after a few simple chats.

In the next few days, people contacted Li Zetian one after another, still asking whether Apple would go public, but they were all rejected by Li Zetian.

Seeing that Li Zetian's attitude was so firm, Wall Street investors stopped persuading him.

……

On the afternoon of August 8, Alan Shugart, CEO of Seagate Technology, suddenly called. Li Zetian was slightly surprised by the content of the call.

"Mr. Li, there is a company in China that released VCD one step earlier than us." Alan Shugart said with a wry smile. An insignificant small company actually rushed to release VCD in front of Seagate Technology, which undoubtedly beat Seagate Technology. Face.

Li Zetian's heart moved, and he asked, "What's the name of this company?"

"The name is Wanyan Company," Alan Shugart thought for a while, and then added, "The founder of the company is Jiang Wanmeng!"

really! ! !

"Tell me briefly about the situation over there." Li Zetian said lightly.

"Okay, Mr. Li." Alan Shugart replied, and then briefly introduced Wanyan Company.

It turned out that Jiang Wanmeng saw the development potential of VCD as early as 1992, and then cooperated with c-cude company to let them design a decoding chip, and buy the movement from Sony. developed.

At the end, Alan Shugart couldn't help but admire: "Mr. Li, you are right! VCD may not be very popular in Europe and America, but it is really very popular in China!!! Wanyan Company's 1000 As soon as the table was launched, it was sold out immediately!!!”

Alan Shugart was a little excited, the population of China is more than one billion, how big is this market!
Li Zetian couldn't help but draw a sarcastic smile when he heard the words.

As soon as it was launched, it was sold out immediately?
Hmph, I'm afraid they were all bought back and dismantled for imitation!Frankly speaking, VCD players basically have no technical content. When it comes to technology, it is mainly the decoding chip and movement. With these two, anyone can make VCD.However, Wanyan Company does not have any of these two companies.

How sad it is that the VCD that has been painstakingly developed turns out to be a wedding dress for others.

In fact, Wanyan Company is not completely without opportunities. This opportunity is the patent of the whole machine, which is enough to curb the development of other competitors.Wanyan Company even has a certain chance of obtaining the patent of the decoder chip, because Wanyan Company funded c-cude Company to develop the VCD decoder chip.If the big funder of the investment requests to share the patent, c-cude may still agree.There are video recorders and DVDs in the European and American markets, but there is no soil for the development of VCDs. C-cude will not pay that much attention to the patent of the decoding chip.

After Li Zetian hung up the phone, he shook his head. Wanyan Company did not pay much attention to patents, but was eventually applied by a foreign company, and then used it to demand patent fees from Chinese VCD companies. This is really depressing!

……

China.

Wanyan Company.

"Haha, I didn't expect our company's products to be so popular. They were sold out as soon as they went on the market!" Jiang Wanmeng was very happy, and said to the employees, "Let the factory step up production. Yan VCD is a big seller!!!”

"Yeah!! Have a big meal!!"

"Haha, Wanyan's VCD is on fire, we are about to prosper!"

"..."

Jiang Wanmeng smiled and said: "Hehe, in order to develop and promote VCD, everyone has worked very hard recently, and at the end of the year, I will give each of you a big red envelope!"

"Mr. Jiang, how much is the red envelope?!"

"Hehe, our Boss Jiang is very generous, there will definitely be no less!"

Jiang Wanmeng laughed and said, "Hehe, don't worry, as long as the company makes money, it will never lose to you!"

……

China, Sony branch.

"Wanyan VCD is really good, it's so popular in China!" A short middle-aged man looked at the VCD in front of him and said in surprise.

"President, this VCD has no technical content at all, but it is very popular in China. We Sony can't let go of this market!" A 25-year-old man suggested.

The short middle-aged man nodded when he heard the words: "Well, what you said makes sense, VCD is still very popular in China! Call the headquarters immediately to develop Sony VCD!"

"Hi!!!"

……

At this moment, the employees of Wanyan Company are still holding a celebration banquet, but they don't know that the crisis has arrived.

Powerful companies such as Sony and Philips are also preparing to enter this market.

Two days later, Sony got information from Wanyan Company that Wanyan Company hadn't applied for any patents! ! !
"Uh... Is Wanyan Company an idiot who didn't even apply for a patent??" The president of Sony China Branch was astonished.

"President, this matter is absolutely true. Chinese people don't pay much attention to patents in the first place, so I sent someone to investigate, and it was exactly as I guessed."

"Haha, that's great, the Chinese are so stupid! Hurry up! We'll apply for a patent for the whole VCD right away!!"

"Ok!"

……

Wanyan Company.

"Mr. Jiang, it's not good. Most of the users who bought our VCDs are enterprises. They bought them back and disassembled them. They copied them one after another. They also planned to launch VCDs. A friend of mine in c-cude company sent news that at least there are Thirty Chinese businessmen are going to discuss cooperation with them. In addition, Sony, Philips and other international companies seem to be planning to develop VCD!!" Wan Yan, the vice president of the company, said anxiously.

Jiang Wanmeng was dumbfounded, sweating coldly.

My God, with so many companies entering VCD, even Sony and Philips, what should Wanyan do?

"Mr. Jiang, many Sony employees laughed at us, saying that we were so stupid that we didn't apply for a patent. As a result, anyone could get a piece of the pie." The vice president sighed with an ugly face.

Jiang Wanmeng was a little confused. He originally thought that in China, a country where piracy is rampant, patents for complete machines are useless, and applying for patents requires money, so you can save money if you can, but he did not expect that it would cause irreparable consequences. .

……

Seagate Technology Corporation, Office of the CEO.

"Mr. Li, should we release the Seagate VCD immediately?" Alan Shugart asked.Seagate Technology Company is different from Wanyan Company. Its decoding chip and movement are independently developed, and it does not need to rely on c-cude and Sony.

"Make preparations first, but there is no need to release it immediately." Li Zetian raised the corner of his mouth, showing a strange smile, and said: "The current VCD market in China can be described as a mess of demons. Shout out a bit, and then we'll go out and hit their arrogance hard!!!"

"Hehe, yes, Mr. Li!" Alan Shugart nodded and smiled knowingly.

……

c-cude has a decoding chip, and Sony has a movement.

In just two weeks, several brands of VCDs appeared on the Chinese market.

Even Sony soon launched the "Sony VCD".

The president of the Sony branch told reporters triumphantly at the VCD product launch conference: "The technology used in Sony VCD is more advanced than other VCDs, and it is the best VCD product at present. We at Sony are very confident that Sony VCD will be made in China. The biggest VCD brand!!!”

Li Zetian was always paying attention to Sony's news. After seeing the Sony press conference, he curled his lips and immediately called Alan Shugart.

"Alan Shugart, launch Seagate VCD right now! At the same time, sue Sony, sue him for daring to illegally use Seagate's VCD patent, and prohibit Sony VCD from being sold worldwide!!!"

"Okay!" Alan Shugart replied with a smile. He knew that Li Zetian was just waiting for Sony to launch a VCD, and then made it.

Then an order was sent to Seagate China branch.

On the morning of the same day, Seagate China Branch held a product conference and released Seagate VCD products.

In addition, it also solemnly announced at the press conference that it will sue Sony for patent infringement!
Sony Corporation is a big international company and pays great attention to reputation.

As soon as the news came out, it immediately shocked China, and it didn't take long for the news to spread all over the world.

"The patent for the VCD whole machine is actually owned by Seagate Technology Company. It's awesome. It's a good job. I just can't understand the little RB Sony company!"

"Uh, what a fucking tragedy for Sony. They just released the Sony VCD, and in the blink of an eye, they were sued!"

"Hehe, what did the president of Sony say? He is very confident that Sony VCD will become the largest VCD brand in China. Now it's over. Seagate Technology Company prohibits it from being sold in China. It's really satisfying!"

"Sony still wants to make money from the Chinese, but there is no way! We all support Seagate. This company is owned by Chronos Li. Although he has no Chinese nationality, he is Chinese. He invests in China and does charity to help China. Develop the economy! The Hope Primary School in my hometown was invested and built by him!"

The Chinese are a bit hostile to RB, and even the RB company.

Every penny that RB earns in China may become a weapon to attack China.

During World War II, some large RB companies were basically related to the army.

If there is more help than righteousness, there is little help when there is no righteousness. Between Sony and Li Zetian, the Chinese naturally choose to support Li Zetian.

As soon as the news that Seagate Technology sued Sony came out, there was so much support that it was almost time to set off firecrackers to celebrate.

At this moment, a cloud of gloom was cast over Sony's head.

Angrily, the president of Sony China Branch threw a document on the ground and cursed: "Although Wanyan Company was the first company to launch VCD, it seems that Seagate Technology has been developing VCD for a long time. , and even applied for a patent. Seagate Technology Company did not announce it sooner or later, but when we released the Sony VCD, they said that the patent for the whole VCD belongs to them, and it is clear that they are going to deal with us!!!”

"President, don't be angry! You also know that Chronos Li has always been at odds with Sony, and it is reasonable to target us this time," the secretary said.

"I'm just angry. Now that we have produced so many Sony VCDs, we can't sell them. The loss is huge! RB's head office must be very dissatisfied with us!" We must obtain the patent authorization of the whole machine!!!”

"En." The secretary nodded and replied, knowing that this was a hard job.

……

At this time, Wanyan Company.

Jiang Wanmeng and others watched Seagate Technology's VCD product launch in front of the TV, and everyone looked bitter and helpless.

"Mr. Jiang...what's the matter with you?" A female employee shouted.

Jiang Wanmeng's face was very ugly, even a little desperate.He heard someone calling him, Xunsheng glanced at her, forced a smile, and said, "It's nothing, it's just that I've been a little tired recently."

Not to mention that Sony and Seagate have launched VCDs, and other workshops and factories have also launched VCDs one after another.

Wanyan's VCD sales plummeted, falling rapidly.

The miscellaneous brand VCDs launched by the small workshop are much cheaper than Wanyan VCDs, and have a great advantage in terms of price.Seagate VCD and Sony are big foreign brands. Chinese people love foreign countries and like to buy foreign products.

The position of Wanyan VCD is very embarrassing, and Jiang Wanmeng's previous ambitions were instantly crushed by reality.

Everyone in the company sighed and panicked.

The red envelope is gone!

Bonuses gone!

The company is doomed!

Are you going to lose your job?

Jiang Wanmeng looked at the demoralized employees and said, "It's all my fault. If I had applied for a patent for the complete VCD, maybe Wanyan Company would not be like this."

"Yeah, Mr. Jiang, how can you save money on this, what a patent! Just look at how miserable Seagate has made Sony!"

"Oh, look, the spokesperson of Seagate Technology Company predicted at the press conference that the sales of VCD in China will be a huge number, at least 1000 million, or even more. Oh, my God, if each machine charges 10 A patent fee of 1 yuan can earn [-] million yuan a year!!!”

As soon as this sentence is finished, the surroundings are dead quiet!
1 million yuan? ?
Everyone present couldn't help being shocked by this number!

You don't have to do anything, you can earn [-] million RMB, just sit and count the money!
"Unfortunately, the 1 million yuan does not belong to our Wanyan company now..." an employee sighed.

Everyone looked at Jiang Wanmeng with resentment.

Jiang Wanmeng also felt that he had committed a serious crime, so he lowered his head and stopped talking.

Wanyan Company is a collectivized company, not Jiang Wanmeng's private company.

At this time, a leader sitting in the front row suddenly stood up and said coldly, very ruthlessly: "Jiang Wanmeng, I am very disappointed in you! You resign, starting today, you are no longer Wanyan Company general manager."

(End of this chapter)