Reborn: Billionaire in College

Cook rubbed his temples, looking serious: "In the first week of the release of the Orange S3, the sales volume worldwide reached 800 million, of which 4 million were sold in mainland China alone, which has a crushing advantage over our iPhone s. Guys, we must change this situation."

Everyone sitting below him is a big shot.

In addition to the group's vice president, there is also the head of the legal department.

Three executives from Apple China also attended the meeting.

They are Qiu Qiuliang, Lu Lei and Guan Chaonan.

Cook's voice came: "If you have any good ideas, please tell me."

Senior Vice President Craig shook his head: "It seems that there is no good solution. Their products are too powerful. Moreover, they are Chinese products with many fans and their prices are cheaper than ours. I can't find any good solution to the problem for the time being."

The head of the legal department asked, "What if we sue them for infringing our patents?"

Cook looked over and said, "But we disassembled the phone, didn't we? They didn't infringe our patents. They can't just make one up out of nothing."

"NONONO, Mr. Cook, they obviously infringed our patent. Design patents are also patents! Just like when we sued Samsung."

"You mean... copying the design and packaging of our iPhone and iPad?" Cook smiled helplessly: "That's also a good idea."

Lu Lei, Apple's senior vice president and president of China, immediately shook his head and said, "What a bad idea! Orange Technology is not Samsung. Samsung's domestic market is not big, and it relies entirely on overseas sales, with a focus on the United States. So we can use our connections in the United States to sue them for infringement. Although we know that the so-called plagiarized packaging itself is not very tenable, because the consumer electronics industry is accustomed to getting inspiration from past products, strictly speaking, this may not be called plagiarism."

"So, your legal department is planning to use the same old tricks in the United States and sue Orange Technology?"

The head of the legal department nodded and said, "Why not? The United States is our base, and we will definitely not let them in. Of course, I also admit that suing in China and other countries will definitely be useless, but as long as we can keep the US market, it will be enough. Fines plus sales ban. Perfect!"

Lu Lei sneered: "Then, the other party sues us for infringement in China? Reciprocity? Is this the result you want?"

The head of the legal department was suddenly speechless.

After a long while, he finally said, "But at least we haven't infringed on anyone's rights so far. What can he use to sue us?"

Lu Lei: "Never underestimate the power of local businessmen in a country. I don't agree with doing so."

"Haha, Lu, even though you are Chinese, you are now an American citizen and an Apple employee. Don't sit on the wrong side of the fence."

Lu Lei: “…”

The reason for disagreement is simple.

Orange mobile phones have just entered overseas markets and have not yet established a foothold in the US market, but they are so rash to challenge others. If they become popular, what will happen to Apple in China?
Apple dares to sue HTC and Samsung simply because HTC and Samsung themselves have small markets and have become the sales leaders in the US market, seriously damaging Apple's interests.

After a long while, Cook finally made the decision: "We'll just sue for infringement and force Orange to come out to settle and have a chat. Isn't this the normal operation of terminal manufacturers? Lu, you don't have to mind. The Chinese market is very important to Apple, and we won't do anything about it, but the US market is more important. If we don't restrict Orange phones right now, they will inevitably become a big concern for us."

"Lu, I know you're worried. But I don't think it's a big problem. Although Orange Technology is a Chinese company, our Apple OEM Foxconn is also in China. In addition, we have many Apple supply chain suppliers, which bring a lot of jobs to China. If Apple is banned from selling, can they afford such a loss?"

Eventually, Cook decided to file a lawsuit.

If it succeeded, they would make a fortune, and the American market would no longer be associated with Orange.

It doesn't matter if you lose.

What if Orange Technology is easy to bully and takes the initiative to seek reconciliation?

Right now, Cook really has no good way to limit his opponents.

Watching everyone leave the meeting room.

Lu Lei sighed.

Qiu Qiuliang walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "In fact, Cook's decision is not wrong. Terminal manufacturers are addicted to patent wars now. Everyone likes to sue first. Otherwise, why do you think Apple and Samsung have been fighting for two years, and we have also been fighting with HTC for two years, not to mention Motorola is also suing us. It's the same in China. Huawei and ZTE are suing each other."

Guan Chaonan also nodded: "Just express your opinions, and it's their business whether to adopt them or not. Cook has no choice. Orange's product power is too strong, and we can't beat it at all. Now they are selling mobile phones based on sentiment, and this can't be sustained." The three of them looked at each other and shook their heads.

Apple has been under such pressure for so many years.

…………

Chen Pingjiang received the news a few days later.

"Is Cook crazy? He keeps suing Samsung over such nonsense. Is he addicted to fighting Samsung? Aren't all mobile phones in the world packaged in this way? Why don't they sue? When did full-screen touch-screen mobile phones become a patent? When our S1 came out, they didn't even know where their iPhone 4 was? They are just looking for trouble. Humph!" Although Zhou Guangping is old, he has a bad temper. He was so angry that he almost slammed the table.

Lin Bin was fine: "They won a big victory over HTC and just want to follow suit. Lao Zhou, you too, it's just a business war, why are you so angry? We should just respond to the lawsuit honestly, otherwise we will be directly judged as the loser."

Chen Pingjiang nodded and turned to look at Chen Shizhe, the legal director of Orange Technology: "Old Chen, do we have a good chance of winning?"

Chen Shizhe smiled bitterly and nodded: "Very big. Let me introduce the relevant background to you."

"Since 10, Apple has filed lawsuits against Samsung in the United States, Germany, Japan, Australia and other regions, claiming that Samsung has infringed Apple's patents. Apple accused Samsung of "stealing" some of the iPad and iPad2 designs, and demanded that Samsung stop selling its tablet products."

"Samsung then counter-sued Apple in Japan and South Korea, and sued Apple at the ITC in the United States. Basically, the two companies had a back-and-forth, with wins and losses, and Apple generally took a big advantage. In Germany, Samsung was once banned from selling. This shows that Apple has tasted the sweetness and wants to try again."

"The battle between Samsung and Apple has now spread from overseas to the United States, and the winner will probably be decided in the second half of the year."

"Back to the case itself, the San Jose District Court will have a negotiation and settlement process before the trial. If we and Apple cannot reach an out-of-court settlement, we will return to court, which increases the possibility of a jury ruling in this case."

"The key to the problem lies in the jury. Apple can easily deal with the jury. Although the court requires the jury to be neutral, it is actually very difficult. For the jury, one is a local company and the other is a foreign company. Is there any need to ask who to help? Therefore, in the infringement case between Samsung and Apple, Samsung will definitely lose, and we cannot win. Of course, this is a very long process. If we go all out, it is not impossible to win, at least we can drag it out. For example, questioning the neutrality of the jury, etc."

Chen Shizhe's words were not alarmist.

In the subsequent lawsuit between Samsung and Apple, the jury finally ruled in the US court that Samsung intentionally infringed on multiple Apple patents and should pay Apple $10.51 billion in damages. Apple did not infringe on any Samsung patents.

The verdict was completed in just three days. Such a short deliberation may mean that the nine jury members reached a consensus that Samsung copied Apple without any difficulty.

In the end, the lawsuit lasted until 2018, and Samsung still lost!
Still lost more than 5 million US dollars.

Chen Pingjiang nodded: "Okay, I understand. You can have your subordinates lead the team to respond to the lawsuit later."

Chen Shizhe was stunned for a moment, then asked in confusion: "Mr. Chen, shouldn't I go? I feel like I have a better chance of success."

"No!" Chen Pingjiang waved his hand: "You have more important things to do."

Having said this, Chen Pingjiang glanced at the executives present.

"Now that others are bullying us, according to Lao Chen, we really have almost no chance of winning in the United States. We will face a lot of compensation or even a sales ban. I will not be so uncultured as to curse Cook and Apple for being dishonest and playing dirty." At this point, Chen Pingjiang changed the subject: "But your legal department should sue Apple in China."

"Why should the battlefield be in the United States? Why not in China? We have only sold about 4 mobile phones in the United States, while iPhone 4 and 1500S sold more than million in China last year. Let's see who is hurt. In this round, will the strong dragon win or the local snake win?"

Lin Bin nodded in agreement: "I agree with Mr. Chen's approach. Everyone must be clear that this may be a test by Apple. However, whether it is a test or a real attack, we must fight like a lion fighting a rabbit until it hurts. If we back down in this round, it is foreseeable that Samsung and other manufacturers will also cause trouble for us next time."

This news could not be concealed from major news media after all.

Just as Chen Pingjiang was in the meeting, overwhelming reports appeared.

——Apple sued Orange for copyright infringement in a California court.

——Uncover the past and present of patent wars among terminal equipment manufacturers.

——Will Orange Mobile follow in Samsung’s footsteps?
——Lin Bin, CEO of Orange Technology, said: We will actively respond to the lawsuit and will never compromise.

—— Orange Technology: We have learned about the relevant news and will resort to legal means to resolve the issue. We will not settle. The company's legal department will leave for the United States tomorrow. (End of this chapter)