Chapter 46: Fairy Tale Shines into Reality

"I will have people publish an announcement now, declaring that Microsoft will not launch a computer brand, at least not for the time being, to calm down this storm!"

Grant looked at Bill Gates and said. At this time, the most important thing was to calm things down, even if it meant making some promises, like not launching Microsoft-branded computers.

But these promises were just waste paper. Once the limelight passed and the timing was right, Microsoft could still do whatever it wanted. What else could other companies do to Microsoft?

Bill Gates nodded. He understood what Grant meant. In reality, this storm also made Bill Gates see that it was indeed not suitable to launch Microsoft-branded computers right now. Forcing a launch would be cutting oneself off from the American tech industry. Taking a step back now was instead beneficial to Microsoft.

"Now it's not just a statement that can solve all the troubles. Microsoft needs to show an attitude, at least solve those damn lawsuits, letting the outside world see Microsoft's determination!"

Jon couldn't help but say at this time. If saying one sentence could make companies like HP and Dell believe that Microsoft wouldn't compete with them for the computer brand market anymore, Jon absolutely didn't believe it.

Listening to Jon's words, Bill Gates cast a questioning gaze at him. He could hear that there were words in Jon's sentence.

Spencer, hiding behind a host of Microsoft executives, suddenly felt tight in his heart. He glared at Jon, but felt a bit nervous in his heart, praying that Jon wouldn't drag the hardware department's lawsuit out.

"All this storm started from the lawsuit between the hardware department and an Asian company. That company sued, saying the hardware department used their mouse patent!"

Jon didn't care what Spencer thought in his heart and directly poked it out, telling Bill Gates that the storm started from the moment Li Dongling accepted the TV station interview. A tragic hero suppressed by Microsoft stirred up dissatisfaction with Microsoft from the outside world. If the lawsuit with Dongling High-Tech didn't end, how could the outside world see Microsoft's determination to know and correct mistakes?

"You mean to say that all this was stirred up by that company called Dongling High-Tech?!" Bill Gates asked with a cold gaze.

"I don't know!"

"But I feel it's not very likely. It's more likely that other rivals used this matter to fan the flames and started a public opinion offensive against Microsoft."

"But we need to use this lawsuit to appropriately make concessions, which can let the outside world see Microsoft's determination. If we can make concessions on the mouse patent, perhaps we can immediately resolve this long storm!"

Jon said. His meaning was very clear: give up the lawsuit with Dongling High-Tech on the mouse patent, letting companies like HP see Microsoft's attitude. If they don't even fight over a mouse, would they fight over a computer brand?!

Bill Gates glanced at Spencer. He wouldn't blame Spencer for "borrowing" or anything; Microsoft hadn't done less of that. But doing it and being caught by the handle made Bill Gates dissatisfied.

Thinking for a moment, thinking about letting Microsoft bow its head to a company from a place considered a tech desert made him feel somewhat unacceptable. Bill Gates was very proud.

But facing the trouble encountered this time, plus the big drop in stock price after Green's interview appeared, as well as the possible antitrust investigation, Bill Gates still said helplessly, "Out-of-court settlement!"

"Microsoft cannot admit defeat, absolutely cannot admit to plagiarizing Dongling High-Tech's patent technology, it can only be an out-of-court settlement!"

Out-of-court settlement, at most pay Dongling High-Tech a sum of dollars, admit that the mouse patent is Dongling High-Tech's—this was already the limit of what Bill Gates could do.

"You go solve this lawsuit. I don't want to see that Dongling High-Tech publish any more unfavorable remarks about Microsoft in the media!"

Bill Gates pointed at Spencer behind him and said.

Spencer returned to his office and threw everything on the table to the ground, venting his dissatisfaction. Being asked to admit mistakes and seek peace with an Asian company, or a company from China, made Spencer feel it was an insult to him.

Hearing the news, Bonas rushed over and asked Spencer, "Are we really going to seek peace with Dongling High-Tech?!"

"Damn Jon!"

Spencer vented, but still said helplessly, "This is an order personally issued by President Bill Gates. What can I do? Go buy a ticket to New York, you come with me!"

Inside Larson's law firm, facing the female assistant secretary who had changed her hairstyle, wore a newly bought tight office uniform that made her figure more prominent, and was swaying in front of him on high heels—normally, Larson would have gone to do hair with the female secretary, but now he had no mood to look at her, making the female secretary leave stomping her high heels with a pouting mouth.

"Microsoft hasn't had any movement yet. Their stock price has already fallen by 11%, and 4.4 billion USD of market value has evaporated. Does Bill Gates not care at all?!"

Larson couldn't help but ask Li Dongling. He felt he was almost unable to hold back. Since the major computer manufacturers issued statements, Microsoft's stock price had started to dive, and billions of USD had turned to ashes.

There were even rumors that Huaerjie institutions were going to abandon Microsoft. If it were Larson, he would have been unable to hold back long ago. But Microsoft was still able to hold its breath, making Larson start to worry for Bill Gates.

Li Dongling also shook his head helplessly. How Bill Gates thought, Huaerjie institutions couldn't figure out, so how could Li Dongling figure it out? After all, in the previous life, Bill Gates, in order to fight to the death with Netscape over the browser, almost really split Microsoft. Such a figure who could influence an industry, making any choice when he became ruthless was not strange at all.

But this time, it clearly hadn't reached the point where Microsoft had to fight for its life. At the very least, no rival was worth Microsoft fighting for its life. Li Dongling felt Bill Gates shouldn't let Microsoft really fall into the awkward situation of antitrust, but before the end, who could say clearly?

"Should we... add another fire!" Larson couldn't help but say.

"Absolutely cannot move again!"

Li Dongling stopped Larson. "Now the tech industry is staring at this matter. If we move again at this time, we will definitely be found by Microsoft. No one wants to face Microsoft's anger alone!"

Before, it was fanning the flames and fishing in troubled waters, but now, major tech companies were all staring at this matter. If they dared to move again at this time, they simply wouldn't treat Microsoft as a person. Li Dongling didn't want to face the anger of Microsoft and Bill Gates alone.

"Recently, there have been some misunderstandings about Microsoft. Here, I represent the Microsoft board of directors to declare that Microsoft will not launch a computer brand, at least not for the time being. Microsoft is still a system software supplier!"

"In addition, some lawsuits and disputes against Microsoft will also be resolved in the near future..."

On the TV station, Grant's figure suddenly appeared. When hearing Grant say these words, Larson had already couldn't help but scream excitedly, and then waved his fists wildly. He had already seemed to see a large amount of dollars entering his account.

After Bonas and Spencer flew to New York, because Bill Gates was waiting for their news, they didn't have any news and came directly to Larson's law firm.

When seeing Li Dongling, Bonas was a bit guilty. After all, Microsoft's new generation of mice truly "borrowed" the Silver Mink mouse, and it was because of him.

Compared to this, Spencer, even if he was here to seek peace today, still appeared somewhat aggressive.

"You can't win this lawsuit, no matter who you invite to fight it," Spencer looked down on Larson, this vulture lawyer. "Withdrawing the lawsuit now is the best choice!"

Larson didn't care at all about Spencer's contempt. "This lawsuit is Microsoft infringing on the patent of the company I represent. No matter how long the lawsuit lasts, we can win!"

"As long as you withdraw the lawsuit, Microsoft can pay Dongling High-Tech a sum of compensation, or you can sell the mouse patent to Microsoft. This is the best choice!"

Before Spencer could speak again, Li Dongling said directly, "The mechanical Silver Mink mouse patent belongs to Dongling High-Tech. Dongling High-Tech will not sell the patent!"

Staring at Li Dongling for a long time, seeing his firm attitude, Spencer also had a headache. "As long as you withdraw the lawsuit, you can immediately get a sum of compensation, a sum that your small company might not earn in a lifetime, enough for you to spend for a lifetime in that country of China."

"Three million USD, how about that?!"

Opening his mouth was three million USD. Spencer felt he had shown enough sincerity.

But what was beyond Spencer's expectation was that neither that vulture lawyer nor Li Dongling had any ripples on their faces.

"Microsoft mice, relying on these patents, the orders received at the Las Vegas Computer Expo alone are more than three million USD, right? Those orders that should have originally belonged to the mechanical Silver Mink!" Li Dongling said with a calm expression.

Spencer's face sank. He saw it: today, it was clearly impossible to end this matter easily.

"How much settlement compensation do you want?!" Bonas asked for Spencer.

Larson looked at Li Dongling, and then slowly said a number that made Spencer's eyes widen: "35 million USD!"

"You are blackmailing!"

"The federal court will not agree to such an absurd extortion!"

"Microsoft will absolutely not pay such compensation!"

Spencer stood up, trembling with anger. Speaking of which, when had Microsoft ever bowed its head to a rival? This time, it was hard to seek peace with a low voice, yet they encountered a lion opening its mouth.

Li Dongling and Larson both looked at Spencer, who was cursing, with ease. They had given the price, just waiting for Spencer to bargain.

As for Spencer leaving, even if he was trembling with anger, he was just cursing, but his feet seemed to have taken root, and he wouldn't leave no matter what.

"It's impossible to have such compensation. I tell the Microsoft board of directors, they will absolutely not agree!"

"Eight million USD, this is the largest compensation I can fight for you!"

"30 million USD. Only such compensation can make up for the damage Microsoft caused to the heart of my agent!"

Larson had too much experience in asking for prices. He could find all sorts of reasons to ask for money. To sum it up in one sentence: if you don't see dollars, don't withdraw the lawsuit. Anyway, it was Microsoft that was anxious now, with stock price and market value falling one after another.

After squabbling for more than half an hour, the compensation was pulled by Spencer and Larson to 18 million USD. Larson was unwilling to make concessions anymore, but Spencer was still hesitant. Such settlement compensation was still truly too high!

"The compensation cannot be less, otherwise there is no need to talk anymore. As long as Microsoft is willing to pay, Dongling High-Tech can immediately withdraw the lawsuit!"

"In addition, the mechanical Silver Mink mouse can license the patent to Microsoft at a price of three million USD per year, as long as Microsoft hands over the mouse production to Dongling High-Tech for OEM!"

Li Dongling opened his mouth. This was the final condition. He could drag it out for a few more days here. Could Microsoft drag it out? Li Dongling could feel that Spencer was much more anxious than him. How much was the compensation? Microsoft's stock price falling 1% was already hundreds of millions of USD gone. Which was lighter and which was heavier, Microsoft could weigh it out itself.

"I need to report to President Bill Gates!"

Spencer said. The compensation was a bit expensive, but for Microsoft's constantly falling stock price, it was not worth mentioning. And if they could get the mouse patent, Microsoft's hardware department wouldn't be too disadvantaged. As for who to hand over the mouse production to, it actually didn't matter to Spencer at all.

The next day, at the entrance of the Manhattan Federal Court in New York, having received the wind, a group of reporters and media had long been waiting here.

When Li Dongling, Larson, Spencer, and others came out, the cameras flashed into a piece.

"Fairy tale shines into reality. Although it's not that perfect, this might be the fairy tale of reality. At the very least, everything today has already told everyone that the demon king can be defeated, that there are dragon-slaying warriors in this world!"

"Dongling High-Tech and Microsoft reached a settlement agreement. All this is thanks to the media and reporters present and countless others who reported this matter. You are the embodiment of justice, the guardians of fairness. The Statue of Liberty is proud because of you. You have saved the world..."

At the entrance of the Manhattan Federal Court, Li Dongling fiercely flattered this group of media and reporters who caused trouble. ===== CHAPTER 47 =====