I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1360 Everyone Shares a Ride

No one in the banquet hall noticed the smile that flashed in the French Crown Prince's eyes, which were filled with the effects of alcohol.

Joseph's primary concern wasn't the tens of millions in patent licensing fees, but rather the long-term benefits over the next few decades or even centuries.

Allowing countries within a common market to license to each other would primarily enhance all governments' acceptance of the patent system.

Everyone spends real money to buy patents and relies on secondary licensing to other countries to recoup costs. If anyone dares to violate the patents and counterfeit them, it will harm the interests of all countries in the common market.

At that time, without France taking any action, other countries will join together to teach the rule-breakers a lesson.

As for someone secretly selling the patent to "outsiders" such as the UK and the US?
Once discovered, France will revoke its patent authorization in accordance with the law, along with the authorizations of all "downstream" countries, and the leaker will be immediately killed by a bunch of "downstream" countries.

Moreover, each country only purchases a few different patents, so if similar technologies appear outside the country, it's easy to know who leaked them without investigation.

Secondly, cross-delegation can greatly enhance the ties of interests among countries, thereby strengthening the cohesion of the common market.

No one can do without the authorization of the others, and even if trade disputes arise within the common market, countries will prioritize resolving them through negotiations.

Finally, France made significant concessions on the surface and secured its leading position in the patent licensing process, thus solidifying its leadership within the common market to an unprecedented degree.

Going forward, it will be much smoother to promote the franc as the standard currency within the common market and to control the definition of industrial standards.

Therefore, although France may seem to have lost tens of millions of dollars in patent fees through "secondary licensing," the benefits it gained are far greater than that.

In reality, Joseph was the one most worried that countries would postpone railway construction because they couldn't afford the patent fees.

France needs a dense railway network to sell its industrial products throughout Europe.

In the event of war, railways serve as both offensive routes and logistical supply lines for the army.

It can be said that as long as the railway is built according to French standards, it is considered to be firmly siding with France.

At the banquet, high-ranking officials from various countries held the authorization documents and excitedly surrounded Joseph, expressing their gratitude and praise. They continued until nine o'clock in the evening, when they escorted him to the ball.

In the corridor, people had already begun to whisper among themselves, eager to hear what was happening.

"Our country has opened two new iron ore mines, so we are preparing to purchase the technology for smelting rail steel."

The speaker was the Minister of the Interior of Hesse.

Someone looked at the Prince of Nassau and said, "Your Highness, your country has many waterwheels, so it would be advantageous for you to acquire the technology for forging railway tracks."

The latter immediately shook his head: "The rail forging technology costs 230 million francs. Our national strength is limited. It's more suitable to purchase a smaller patent..."

When the Bavarian Minister of Trade's assistant noticed that everyone was looking at him, he quickly pretended to be drunk.

Another person rubbed his hands together and asked, "Then, who would be the most suitable person to buy the patent for the steam engine for trains?"

This is the most expensive type of patent, and everyone fell silent.

Officials in smaller countries like Oldenburg were even more eager to shrink back, afraid of being noticed.

Upon seeing this, Baden's Foreign Minister's assistant couldn't help but sigh, thinking to himself that it was just as His Highness the Crown Prince of France had predicted.

He immediately stepped forward a few paces and, following the instructions of the Crown Prince, said:
"In reality, it doesn't matter who buys which patents, because all countries can obtain secondary licenses. Therefore, I suggest that the obligation to purchase patents should be allocated according to each country's financial situation..."

The Milanese were immediately dissatisfied: "This is unreasonable. Why should we have to pay more money just because the finances are good?"

Baron Binder shook his head inwardly and continued to repeat Joseph's words: "In fact, countries that purchase more expensive or more patents will gain additional diplomatic and international prestige benefits when licensing them to other countries."

Upon hearing this, officials from several major countries immediately had an idea. Indeed, although they would all need to grant each other secondary authorizations, the amount of money I paid would certainly earn the gratitude of other countries.

In diplomatic settings, a simple "thank you" can sometimes play a significant role.

Moreover, when split among the major powers, the country that contributed the most only spent a few hundred thousand francs more than the country that contributed the least. For a major power, this amount of money is absolutely worthwhile for acquiring national status.

Baron Binder then looked at the Oldenburg royal secretary, who was hiding at the back with his head down, and said in a deep voice, "And for countries that do not purchase any patents, they may not be able to exchange patents with other countries in the future."

The latter immediately snapped out of his daze and quickly moved closer.

By the end of the ball, the countries had very efficiently discussed and roughly determined the proportion of patents each country would purchase.

Count Elach, the deputy speaker of the Bern State Parliament, listened from afar as officials from those countries excitedly discussed the railway patents, his mouth watering with envy.

If Switzerland were also a member of the Common Market, it could acquire the complete railway technology for just a few hundred thousand, or even a few hundred thousand francs.

At that time, a sleeper factory could be built in Schwyz and a bolt factory in Geneva, and these states would certainly no longer oppose the construction of the Bern-Zurich railway.

In this way, they won't have to ask for the payment back, and the railway can start construction soon.

And the bank runs and riots in Switzerland will disappear, allowing his political life to continue...

However, neither Northern Italy nor the German Common Market wanted Switzerland, a poor and small country.

He sighed subconsciously: "If we could join the common market, we wouldn't have to worry about the railways anymore..."

Dorian took a sip of wine, put her arm around his, and laughed, "If you were a French official, the government would issue the railway plans directly. Then I could see you every day."

Count Elach smiled wryly, "Alas... how could this be?"

Just then, a tall, handsome man walked by with a wine glass in his hand, then turned back and looked Dorian up and down, saying, "If I'm not mistaken, you are Miss Grondin, aren't you?"

The latter nodded with some surprise: "You are Madame Robertge now. And you are?"

“Oh, it really is you, Dorian.” The handsome man pointed to his own nose and said, “Nestor Norbert, do you remember me?”

“Oh, it’s Mr. Nobelt! Of course I remember you.” Dorian introduced him to Count Elach. “My dear, Mr. Nobelt used to live across from my house, and my father often chatted with Viscount Nobelt.”

In reality, she was not familiar with the Norbert family; she only did so to show her lover that her family had connections with the nobility.

Norbert politely bowed to Count Elach with his hand on his chest: "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Robertge."

The latter immediately waved his hand awkwardly: "Um, my surname isn't Robertge. You can call me Erlach. Klaus von Erlach."

(End of this chapter)