Chapter 41: A Thousand-Mile Dike Collapses at an Ant's Nest

"At most two million USD. Logitech can at most bear two million USD in lawyer fees for you. This money must be used entirely for the litigation costs against Microsoft!"

After discussing for a long time in the next room with Parkosta and Marini, Daniel returned and said to Li Dongling.

Logitech couldn't fight to the death with Microsoft for Dongling High-Tech. Two million USD wasn't a large sum of money for Logitech. Spending a little money wouldn't hurt their muscles or bones. Being able to get the scroll wheel mouse patent and also fiercely disgust Microsoft—this account wasn't a loss!

Li Dongling reached out and shook hands with Daniel. The two sides had reached an agreement. Two million USD, converted into RMB, was over 16 million, equivalent to more than half of the cash flow in Dongling High-Tech's account.

Yao Luoying watched this scene, her eyes revealing a strange light. She saw Li Dongling, in just a few words, drag Logitech, a rival of Dongling High-Tech, into the same camp and even make the other side pay millions of USD to fight a lawsuit for Dongling High-Tech. If she hadn't seen this distorted reality with her own eyes, she would never have believed such a thing could happen.

Without accepting Daniel's retention, after resting for one night, early the next morning, Li Dongling left Lausanne and headed to the airport to rush to America.

"We are going to find the most top-tier vulture lawyer group in America to fight this lawsuit!"

After boarding the plane, Li Dongling discussed with Yao Luoying. Li Dongling didn't plan to find those big-name lawyers, but was prepared to find the notorious vulture lawyer group.

"Vulture lawyers?!" Yao Luoying, who was searching for famous American lawyers, was surprised upon hearing Li Dongling's words.

Vulture lawyers—hearing this name, one knew what kind of character these lawyers had. They plucked feathers from geese as they passed; they would pick three faults even when there was nothing wrong.

Buying coffee at a cafe and getting scalded, fighting a lawsuit to make the cafe pay millions of USD; a tire blowing out while driving and hitting a tree, finding the car company to pay hundreds of millions of USD, etc. After seeing these news reports, if one looked carefully, one would find that behind these lawsuits, there was a mysterious group, and that was the vulture lawyers!

The millions or hundreds of millions of USD in compensation from those cases looked like a lot, but in reality, most of the compensation was taken by the vulture lawyer group. Those who filed the lawsuits actually didn't get much.

"We don't have much time. This matter must be resolved quickly. Finding big-name lawyers, the chance of winning is certainly high, but it takes too much time. Vulture lawyers are currently the most suitable to take over this lawsuit!"

To win, to earn dollars, vulture lawyers were almost unscrupulous, basically having no bottom line. They would use all sorts of underhanded tricks and were especially good at manufacturing public opinion.

When the plane Li Dongling was on flew to New York, Logitech formally announced to the European Trade Commission that it was initiating a lawsuit against Microsoft, threatening that Microsoft had infringed on eight mouse patents represented by Logitech. Once the news broke, the entire European media was moved by the wind!

At the same time, inside the *New Tech Express*, they also received a lawyer's letter from Dongling High-Tech. When Lin Shiman saw the lawyer's letter, she couldn't believe her eyes. "They still dare to sue the newspaper?!"

Although the newspaper editor-in-chief did not have much worry, he still carried a bit of confusion, "We have indeed been sued. The other party's lawyers have already arrived in the city. This time, the lawsuit against our newspaper demands compensation of three million yuan for losses, and also requires our newspaper and you to publish apology statements in media such as the Yangcheng Daily for thirty consecutive days to restore Dongling High-Tech's reputation!"

"They must be crazy. Do they really think Microsoft won't do anything to Dongling High-Tech? When Microsoft takes action, I'll see if they are still this arrogant when they go to prison!"

Lin Shiman said angrily. She felt that the facts had been established to such a degree, yet the other party was still stubbornly refusing to admit defeat and even dared to sue their newspaper; it was simply lawless.

"It is strange, come to think of it," the editor-in-chief of the New Technology Express said with some confusion, "It has been several days, and we have reported so much news, why is there still no movement from Microsoft's side? They should already know about this matter!"

Lin Shiman instead persuaded the newspaper editor-in-chief, "They are a big company with their own rules and regulations. I heard they even have their own legal department. Separated by an ocean, processing it must take time, unlike some companies that only know how to send lawyer's letters!"

Lin Shiman threw that lawyer's letter aside and didn't take it seriously at all. She felt that Dongling High-Tech was at most bluffing. If they had the ability, they should really go to court to see the truth. Now Lin Shiman felt full of fighting spirit, preparing to write a few more powerful articles to bombard Dongling High-Tech, letting the world see the true face of Dongling High-Tech and making it a thorough disgrace in the history of Chinese technology.

The Gulf cruise ship sounded its whistle, the streets were bustling with traffic, and high-rise buildings were still being built continuously. New York in 1994 represented the state of Americans at this moment, currently in the most confident era in history.

The archenemy, the Mao Xiong, had collapsed with a bang three years ago, and only one empire remained in the world. At present, America was at the moment when the empire's light was most dazzling. For Americans, this was the golden age.

Stepping into New York for the first time, looking at the modern metropolis with its forest of high-rise buildings, whether it was Yao Luoying, Yang Zhi Gao, or the woman who came out with Yao Luoying, the bustling New York before their eyes and the countless modernized products made them feel shocked, just like everyone else who had come here for the first time in this era.

However, Li Dongling, who had seen the later domestic Yanjing, Shanghai, Pengcheng, Yangcheng, and other places, did not have much feeling for this kind of prosperity. At present, this was when the empire's national fortune and national strength were at their strongest. After these few years, these places wouldn't even change their appearance for decades!

"Logitech is suing our mouse for infringing on their patents?!"

The Microsoft legal department told Spencer the news that had been transmitted from Europe. Spencer was a bit confused when he heard this news and didn't know what was going on.

"Yes!"

The person who came from Microsoft's legal department was a supervisor named Jon. Microsoft didn't know how many lawsuits it fought every year, being sued and suing others. All over the world, there were companies pirating Microsoft systems and software. Microsoft didn't know how many people it sent to prison every year. In order not to let the empire be infringed upon, Microsoft spent a huge amount of money every year to build a formidable legal department; even the president of the legal department entered the Microsoft board of directors directly.

"We still can't know which patents Logitech has sued your hardware department for infringing upon.

But now the situation in Europe is a bit bad. Without the threat of the Mao Xiong, Old Europe has lost its awe of America. Since last year, multiple American companies have been sued and fined by the European Union Trade Commission!

I need to know what kind of trouble you have between your hardware department and Logitech?!" Jon asked Spencer.

"That's a long list!"

Spencer sneered. Microsoft and Logitech had had no shortage of squabbles over mice. Logitech had been suppressing Microsoft in mouse technology, which truly made Spencer lose face.

"But they are all old problems. They can't stir up any trouble. I know them better than you do. At most, it's just squabbling over some old issues. Trust me!" Spencer didn't take it seriously. In the past, such lawsuits had happened often. He thought it was at most the same as before: arguing in court and spraying each other in the newspapers.

Seeing that Spencer didn't take it seriously, Jon didn't say anything more. Their legal department was very busy; sometimes they had to fly all over the world, and it was impossible to keep an eye on every lawsuit.

"Could this matter be related to Dongling High-Tech?"

Bonas, who heard the news, rushed over and said to Spencer. He was always a bit uneasy, although the new generation of mice released by Microsoft was already a hit, and they had already received several orders.

"Relax, Bonas. This is America, and we are Microsoft. What could IBM, Sun Microsystems, or Lotus do to Microsoft?!"

Spencer patted Bonas on the shoulder. Because of his contributions, Bonas was kept in America by Spencer, which counted as a promotion. Being a supervisor at headquarters was definitely much more promising than being overseas.

Inside a luxury office building on Houston Street in New York, Li Dongling, Yao Luoying, and Yang Zhi Gao arrived at the entrance of the Hardy Larson Law Firm.

"Do you have an appointment?!"

A blonde female receptionist, wearing a professional suit that was clearly a few sizes too small, which made her figure very eye-catching, showed a professional smile and asked Li Dongling.

Seeing Li Dongling shake his head, the receptionist immediately said, "I'm truly sorry, Attorney Larson still has to appear in court for several lawsuits today, I'm truly sorry..."

"A lawsuit with a two-million-dollar legal fee. If Larson doesn't care, we can find other law firms in this building."

"Please wait a moment, I will go report it right now!"

Hearing the number Li Dongling said, the receptionist didn't care about her image anymore; twisting her tight short skirt, she stepped on her high heels and rushed into Larson's office.

A few dozen seconds later, a fat man with his belly sticking out ran toward Li Dongling at a speed that didn't match his figure.

"Damn it, you almost made me lose one of my most respected friends!"

Larson first scolded the receptionist, then reached out to Li Dongling, and with a sincere and righteous face, said, "Don't worry, my friend. Your arrival here means that all troubles have left you. You can always trust Larson. No matter when or where, Larson is willing to serve you!"