Punching Mirohua!

Chapter 72 Punching Mirohua!

When Steve Jobs stated that Atari held a patent license for "US3728480 A", Ethan Jones suddenly felt a sense of clarity, and all the previously inexplicable and bizarre behaviors suddenly made sense to him!

First, there was the negotiation for Snake Game a few months ago.

Because the public was new to video games and had no idea how they worked or how they were presented, most people assumed Atari had simply copied Mirova's work on *Pong*, completely unaware of the patent infringement issues involved in video games. Even when Mirova and Atari went to court, people only knew that Atari couldn't release any new games for a year, unaware that Atari had used that year of stagnation to acquire a patent monster. It was under this cloud of understanding that Ethan Hunt appeared with *Snake Game*.

This was a pleasant surprise for Atari!

Just when they were ready to give up on the market, someone actually came to them with a game to collaborate?

This is simply divine favor!

When Nolan Bushnell saw the exceptionally high quality of Snake Game, he must have had the idea of ​​acquiring it. Otherwise, why would Don Valentine have proposed a 99-year licensing agreement during the negotiations?

At first, Ethan Jones thought that Don Valentine and his group were asking for an exorbitant price and were waiting for him to come down and negotiate the money back.

So he used Stanford's influence to pressure them into signing a one-year licensing agreement.

But now it seems... these guys were probably doing it on purpose!

Because the length of the authorization period is meaningless to them!

Because they know better than anyone that if Snake Game is sold, it's an infringing product! If Ethan Jones is willing to entrust Snake Game to them, they will definitely witness Ethan Jones being sued by Milroyal!

At this point, the second step, which is currently underway, will occur.

When Milroyal sued Ethan Jones and Atari, Ethan Jones, who was certain to lose the case, had no choice but to pay compensation to settle the matter.

Because no one can win this case.

Ethan Jones's withdrawal and acquittal presents Nolan Bushnell and Don Valentine with their best opportunity. If they can shift all the blame for this incident onto Ethan Jones, who has already admitted to patent infringement, then they can sue Ethan Jones as victims and demand that he bear all the losses from this infringement.

That would be an astronomical figure!

Snake Game has already sold nearly 10,000 copies!

Even if Atari were to show mercy and only allow Ethan Jones to make up for their losses, he still wouldn't be able to!

With Ethan Jones unable to afford the exorbitant compensation, the third step, which is what Atari hopes to achieve, will become inevitable.

If you can't pay back the money, then use something else to settle the debt.

What is the most valuable thing Ethan Jones has?

Isn't that Snake Game?

After a period of back-and-forth, the two parties will inevitably reach an out-of-court settlement. Atari will reluctantly accept the infringing work "Snake Game" as compensation. At the same time, they can also keep all the revenue from the previous release of "Snake Game" by paying compensation to Mirova!

After this series of events, Ethan Jones could only leave the stage with regret, while Atari only paid a million dollars in compensation to acquire the full copyright of "Snake Game," and this copyright... will bring them exponentially more profits!

To be honest, when this speculation appeared before Ethan Jones as if it were a fleeting dream, what Ethan Jones wanted to do most was to strangle Nolan Bushnell and Don Valentine!

I've had my eye on his "Snake Game" from the very beginning?

Holy crap!!!

Of course, even though Ethan Jones deduced the truth, he didn't act rashly. So the next day, he found Barbara and told her everything that Jobs had learned and his own speculations.

The complete sequence of events allowed Barbara to see everything clearly, and she asked, "Ethan, how do you plan to handle this?"

"Teacher Barbara, what can I do about this?" Ethan asked, wanting to hear the sorceress's advice.

"Well……"

This question made Barbara ponder for a moment. "Ethan, although we have deduced the entire course of events, there is no factual basis for this. It only makes it clear to us what Atari is pursuing."

"If you follow the normal legal process, you will still lose the case and still have to pay compensation. However, after knowing the truth, you won't pay compensation in a confused state, but rather with better preparation..."

"I think you understand what I mean, right?"

Barbara looked at Ethan with a serious expression.

"Yeah!" Ethan nodded with a smile. "I understand, so we can't follow the normal legal procedures, right?"

"..."

This question startled Barbara for a moment.

Then, a look of exasperation crossed her face. "Oh, Ethan, I'm a lawyer, and more importantly, a teacher. You're asking me if I can solve a legal problem with a non-legal one? You're simply..."

"Could you answer a few questions for me?"

Ethan knew what Barbara was struggling with, so he changed his question: "A few legal questions."

"That's fine," Barbara readily agreed. "So, what aspect would you like to know about?"

It seemed the matter was already settled, so Barbara even cracked a joke—

"For example, what crime is it to illegally trespass on someone's private property and shoot them in the head?"

"For example, what is the maximum sentence for shooting someone to death in the street?"

"Would turning oneself in after committing a series of murders lead the judge to consider a reduced sentence?"

"Hahaha..." Barbara's analogy almost made Ethan die laughing. "Oh Barbara! Do I look like that kind of crazy person to you?"

"certainly!"

Barbara replied with a smile, "Excuse me for being frank, but I simply can't think of any way to resolve this matter."

Ethan largely agreed with Barbara's words, because these problems could no longer be solved through normal means. However, he also knew that besides legal channels, there was another form of attack in this world called magic.

When these guys don't play by the rules, then it's like what Dad said—'Magic must defeat magic.'

Thinking of this, Ethan's smile widened. He sat up straight and asked, "Barbara, my first question is, after Mirova sued me, can Mirova withdraw the lawsuit before I file my response?"

…………

Sidley Austin has two offices in California, one in San Francisco and one in Los Angeles.

When Ethan stepped into Room 2000, 555 California Street, San Francisco, the two lawyers who had previously delivered his lawyer's letter greeted him with smiles.

After inviting Ethan into their office, they poured him a cup of ginseng tea before smiling and sitting down opposite him. As the soft sofa sank into a subtle curve, friendly words followed.

"Mr. Jones, it's a pleasure to see you again. Although we just spoke with you on the phone, we still can't quite believe our ears. So, we'd like to confirm with you again that you want our client, Milrohua, to drop the lawsuit, is that right? And in order to achieve this, you're willing to accept all the damages in the complaint, namely, paying our client, Milrohua, one million US dollars, and promising not to sell 'Snake Game' as a video game in the United States, is that right?"

"Hmm... half and half."

Wearing a suit and tie, Ethan Jones smiled and said, "If your client, Milrohua, agrees to drop the lawsuit, I, Ethan Jones, and my sister, Evelyn Jensen, are willing to pay your client one million dollars."

"As for the promise of a sales ban that you mentioned..."

"I doubt that your client, Milorad, would have included this clause in the settlement agreement."

…………

"sure!"

Barbara nodded and said with a smile, "According to the laws of our country, after the plaintiff files a lawsuit in court, but before the defendant submits a statement of defense, the plaintiff can withdraw the lawsuit, but needs to submit a motion for voluntary withdrawal to the court to end the case."

"Of course, if the plaintiff chooses to withdraw the lawsuit, then all costs incurred between filing and withdrawing the lawsuit will be borne by the plaintiff."

"However, in practice, if the defendant and the plaintiff reach an agreement and want to resolve the issue quickly, then the costs that the plaintiff needs to bear will ultimately be passed on to the defendant."

After answering the question, Barbara's face also showed curiosity. "Ethan, why did you ask that question?"

"Because I'm prepared to reconcile with Milrowa," Ethan said with a smile.

The answer left Barbara puzzled. "Why?"

"How do you know Miluohua is willing to settle?"

…………

Ethan Jones's words puzzled the two lawyers.

They exchanged a glance, and then the man on the left said, "Mr. Jones, if I may be frank, I don't understand what you mean, because our client has clearly stated that the infringer must be severely punished by law."

"If you only want to resolve the issue by paying compensation, then I think our client will not agree."

"Is that so?" Ethan Jones smiled, nodded, and said, "Then please tell your clients, I, Ethan Jones, that I understand why they are suing me and Atari separately."

"Then, please tell your clients that there is no problem with their separate lawsuits."

"I, Ethan Jones, can assure them that they will absolutely receive both settlements."

"? 』

Sidley Austin's lawyers looked puzzled; they didn't understand what Ethan Jones was saying.

Even so, they did as Ethan Jones asked.

After all, it was Milrova who filed the lawsuit against Atari.

…………

"Barbara, you ask me how I know Miluohua is willing to reach a settlement with me?"

"The problem is actually quite simple," Ethan Jones said with a smile. "As you said before, Milrova's prosecution is rather unusual, so unusual that you once thought Milrova might be deliberately targeting me."

"I couldn't answer your question before, but now I can give a definite answer: yes and no."

"The reason I say yes is simple: I think the reason Milrohua is suing me is because they feel ashamed."

"Just like you said before, when middle-level leaders can shift the blame to their subordinates in order to keep their jobs, the higher-ups won't be much better. When questioned by their bosses, they'll be like people drowning, desperately calling for help."

"My presence will indeed subject them to questioning."

"So they will sue me at all costs to get as much compensation as possible from me. And this kind of thing can only be done by an external law firm, because no one knows whether the lawyers inside the company are loyal."

Upon hearing this, Barbara's brows relaxed.

"Oh, Ethan... if that's the case, it makes perfect sense."

At the same time, she also asked, "Or not?"

"The reason why it's not targeted at me is actually simpler."

Ethan picked up the water glass on the table and shook it slightly.

The once calm water surface suddenly became rippled.

Looking at the scene that had lost its tranquility, Ethan smiled and raised his glass. "Because Mirova itself knows that Atari has the license to license the patent for video games and training devices, but they don't know whether Atari is infringing on it."

"Steve Jobs' words last night woke me up. He said that Atari has a way to circumvent the copyright issue of Snake Game, as long as our contract does not involve the distribution of the machines."

"Milohua will definitely know about this as well."

"Therefore, to be absolutely certain, they filed separate lawsuits."

"Because my infringement is an undeniable fact, as evidenced by the provisional application filed with the Patent Office, while Atari's infringement is Schrödinger's cat. Before Atari presented the contract we signed to Milrohua, Milrohua was also unaware of whether Atari had infringed on their rights."

"When Milrova starts doing this, it can only prove one thing..."

Ethan downed the water in his glass, smiled at Barbara, and said, "The people who decided to sue us don't care whether we infringed on their rights. They just want to get compensation safely, through legal means, to get compensation that can prove to their boss that they did nothing wrong."

"If they really cared, they would send an inquiry letter first, rather than directly filing a lawsuit."

…………

"Uh... Mr. Jones... I just contacted my clients, and they are very satisfied with the information you provided."

Sidley Austin's lawyer smiled at Ethan Jones and said, "But my client says that this established fact cannot be used as a bargaining chip unless you can offer something else, something that will interest my client."

"Then I'd like to know, what would interest your client?"

Ethan Jones leaned back, interlacing his fingers and placing them on his abdomen.

"You should be able to sense that I've come here today with sincerity."

"Oh, Mr. Jones, sincerity isn't something you can just talk about, is it?"

Sidley Austin's lawyer, who had previously called to communicate with Milroyal, laughed and said, "You can certainly promise us more."

…………

"Even if you know that Mirova is only after money, and that Mirova's executives are just trying to keep their jobs, taking the initiative to settle is actually the worst option for you. Do you understand what I mean, Ethan?"

Barbara took a deep breath and said, "If we follow the procedure, submit our defense and evidence on time, and the court brings the case into the settlement process, then with the judge's intervention, you won't have to pay so much money."

Barbara paused here, then changed her tone, speaking earnestly:

"Ethan, I should have told you, judges are not gods, they are human too."

"When two young people stand in the dock, listening blankly as the plaintiff's lawyer recounts their crimes, any judge would feel sympathy! Because they know just how outrageous this patent is!"

"Even though you might still lose in this situation to uphold the fairness of the law, the judge, or rather, the jury, will all feel that a million-dollar settlement is excessive!"

"They will definitely reduce Mirova's compensation amount accordingly!"

"If I were to defend you, I would definitely say it was unintentional. In that case, 100,000? 200,000? That would be enough to resolve the issue! You know, Atari only paid 700,000 for their 'Pong'! I can even tell you this: if it exceeded 200,000... Stanford wouldn't stand for it!"

"As long as I report it, and Evelyn tells Vinton about it, all the school leaders will make calls for you. They'll proactively communicate with those idiots in the San Francisco courthouse!"

"Because this really isn't your fault!"

…………

"Promise more?"

Sidley Austin's words made Ethan Jones laugh.

"I think you may not have grasped the crux of the matter. A reconciliation is actually more in your best interest."

"Even if you have a legal basis for your claim in court, you can't possibly get more money than the settlement!"

"Because your client, Mirohua, has never publicly claimed to own the patent for 'video games and training devices'! It's not that your client can't announce it, but that your client dares not announce it!"

"Any normal person knows how outrageous this patent is! Your client only dares to sue directly, but doesn't dare to send you a lawyer's letter, simply because they want to use legal means to shut the infringer up!"

"If you send a lawyer's letter directly, the infringer will definitely publicize your client's outrageous patent to the media, thereby gaining public support. However, if you file a lawsuit directly, you can use the Federal Rules of Procedure to require the defendant to protect your client's patent information! This is because it involves your client's privacy and trade secrets!"

At this point, Ethan Jones leaned forward slightly and sneered, "But your demands can only fool ordinary people, right? Because before the court issues a protection order, I can reveal everything to the media."

"The other defendants dare not reveal their identities simply because they know they will lose the case and want to reach a settlement with your client to pay less money."

"But when I'm willing to pay compensation, you refuse to settle and insist on clinging to the sales ban..."

"Then I'm really sorry."

Ethan Jones smiled, but his words were icy: "Tell Mirova."

"If he insists on banning the sale, I'll contact the Los Angeles Times."

"Aren't they just trying to make money off their patents?"

"I'd really like to know how much you'll profit from this sure-win but unjust lawsuit after it gets out?"

"I think there's something you know better than I do, right?"

"Judges are human too."

Sidley Austin's lawyer gave Ethan Jones a deep look.

Then he got up and made a phone call.

…………

"Yeah~Yeah~Yeah~" Barbara's words made Ethan nod repeatedly.

"I know, I know that going to court would be more advantageous for me, but I need this settlement."

"? 』

Barbara didn't understand what Ethan meant.

Is it crazy to lose less money or more money?

Ethan, however, smiled and said, "Oh, Barbara, perhaps you think my current behavior means 'not reasoning in unreasonable situations, and not playing the hero when defeat is inevitable,' but... I'm sorry, you're wrong. That's not what I'm after at all."

"That's not it?"

Barbara still didn't understand.

The next second, Ethan's expression changed, and he shouted—

"Because I want Milova dead! I want all those who keep shifting the blame onto me to die!!"

"I've had enough of their endless nitpicking!!!"

"And how do we kill them?"

"It's very simple!"

"I just need to make one person feel sorry for me!"

"As for who that person is..."

"I think you probably guessed it?"

The sudden rise in voice was an outpouring of anger.

A calm inquiry is a way of conveying one's inner thoughts.

When Ethan regained his composure and gave Barbara an innocent smile, Barbara, who had been startled by him, burst into laughter, slapping her thigh and nodding repeatedly.

"Yeah~"

"If you want Milova dead."

"Just make Professor Ralph Bell think you're miserable."

"And Professor Ralph Bell..."

"He will definitely think you're miserable."

"Because he was very dissatisfied with Milova, and you helped Chuck Patto."

That's right!

Ethan was willing to pay the money because he wanted to meet Professor Ralph Bell!

Because in the future, if he wants to make video games, he can't avoid Professor Ralph Bell's ridiculous patent on video games and training devices! When Milrova holds it, it's equivalent to holding the entire North American video game market!

In this situation, how would Ethan play the game?

It's impossible!

But even if this patent is amazing, there are still ways to circumvent it!

If Professor Ralph Bell is willing to make games, he can be reborn in California like Chuck Patto and MOS 6502!

As for whether Professor Ralph Bell is willing to make the game?

This problem does not actually exist.

Because Steve Jobs had told Ethan that Professor Ralph Bell and Nolan Bushnell reached a settlement to avoid destroying the North American video game market! This old man was willing to suffer losses himself in order to protect the nascent game market!

So, when Ethan discovered that those idiots at Milrohua were just after money, he decided to pay them a million dollars. Then he went to visit Ralph Bell, told him he wanted to make games, and begged the old man to come out of retirement and get a similar patent, so those Milrohua idiots could eat shit!

Doesn't Mirowa want to make money while lying down?

I'll just tear your house apart! I'll chop your bed up! I'll smash your bed frame!

I'll let you lie down!

From now on, I won't charge any patent fees to any game developers who come to me under my name!

Let's see who gets killed!

Of course, all of Ethan's confidence actually stemmed from Evelyn's earlier advice.

When he helps Chuck Patto, these dreamers will push him toward sainthood.

If someone else were to approach Ralph Bell, the old man might hesitate.

But Ethan believed that when he went, they would only give him a warm welcome.

"Clap clap clap..."

Barbara clapped.

"Ethan—Ethan Jones—"

"You really are—"

"That's insane!"

"Oh my god! I've been in this business for many years, but I've never seen a client as crazy as you before!"

Although it was considered offensive, Barbara still had to admit that there was nothing wrong with Ethan's idea.

Are you legally invincible?

Well, I'm sorry, but I can take drastic measures!

After her initial surprise, Barbara asked curiously, "Where are you planning to get that million-dollar compensation?"

"A million must be a lot of pressure for your family, right?"

"Who said I have to pay for this million myself?" Ethan tilted his head slightly and asked with a smile.

"Huh?" Barbara paused for a moment, then said, "You mean—"

"Yes, you're right."

Ethan clapped his hands, straightened his collar, and said, "Shouldn't Atari pay for this?"

"Since they want to steal my 'Snake Game,' they shouldn't blame me for smashing their patent license!"

At this point, Ethan stood up with a smile.

"See you later, Ms. Barbara."

…………

"Okay, Mr. Jones, our client agrees to settle with you."

After the second call, Sidley Austin's lawyer sat down in front of Ethan Jones again. "However, my client said he would send someone to San Francisco to discuss the specific details with you, and we would appreciate it if you could be there on time."

"no problem."

Ethan Jones stood up with a smile and extended his right hand.

"I hope we can reach a consensus soon."

"We also hope that day will come soon."

Sidley Austin’s two lawyers shook hands with Ethan Jones one by one.

"See you later," the two lawyers nodded.

"See you later," Ethan Jones said with a smile.

Note: ① The statement in the text that Barbara knew Ralph Bell disliked Mirova is true; it wasn't a plot device. In reality, when Mirova launched a series of lawsuits against game companies, Ralph Bell publicly expressed his dislike for Mirova's legal actions. This old man genuinely wanted to make games. Later, when Mirova ignored advice and refused to seriously pursue its game business, Ralph Bell partnered with another company called Coleco.

PS: Today's chapter is 6.8K words long, a two-in-one chapter. It will be gone by 8 PM tonight. Tomorrow, there should also be a two-in-one chapter at noon. I can't write or post these chapters intermittently because they need to be written in one go. Please forgive me.

(End of this chapter)