You call this entrepreneurship?

Chapter 403 Copyright Dispute

Edward is worthy of being an executive of an international company. The criteria for selecting an office building are also according to the standards of large companies, which is very high-end.

"Jianwai SOHO, 500 square meters of office space." Edward led his men to pace in the spacious office building, "This is enough to accommodate the entire team of Suoyin Company."

Huang Zong stood by the bright window, looking at the hustle and bustle of the street outside, feeling a little dazed.

It seems like I have become the boss of a big company, sitting in an upscale office and chatting and laughing with clients.

"How much is the monthly rent here?" Huang Zong asked with difficulty.

Edward's assistant gestured and said, "Two hundred yuan per square meter per month."

Huang Zong's eyes went dark and he felt his legs go weak.

A 500-square-meter apartment would cost 100,000 yuan a month, which means 1.2 million yuan a year.

His small company didn't even make this much money in the past year.

Now Edward came and increased the intensity of his attack, causing Huang Zong to feel a wave of pain in his heart, as if it were being cut by a knife.

"Hey, Huang, cheer up." Edward put his arm around Huang Zong's shoulders, pointed to the empty office and said in unskilled Mandarin, "This will be the starting point of your company. You have to make it a first-class animation company."

"This place is far from big enough. Next year, rent out the rest of the space on this floor, expand your team, and your business will expand as well."

"You need to have a broad vision and a big picture!"

Huang Zong thought that Edward was right.

As the business expands, you can earn more money. Take this business for example, the deposit alone is one million US dollars, which is more than 8 million RMB.

Isn’t it normal to spend 1.2 million to rent an office building?
Our company needs to keep pace with the international standards in the future and can no longer stay in a place like Three Rooms.

You need to have a broad vision and a big picture!
Edward then added, "When can you expand your team to 500 people?"

Huang Zong suddenly came to his senses and immediately explained: "It's a bit difficult to recruit people now. We need some time. Besides, it will take some time to renovate the office here."

"Can you give me a more specific time? My boss can't wait any longer." Edward asked with a smile.

"Well, it will take me one or two months." Huang Zong said with some difficulty and lack of confidence.

Edward's expression suddenly changed, and he said in a stiff tone, "You have already signed the contract. I hope you can start the work as soon as possible. Don't delay any longer. You don't have much time left."

"If you cannot complete the requirements on time, you will be in breach of contract."

Huang Zong's heart trembled, the penalty for breach of contract was not high.

It was only half of the contract value, a mere 10 million US dollars.

But this was not something he could afford.

"You only have one week." Edward turned around and left with his assistant, saying as he walked away, "I will send an HR director to oversee your recruitment process. You don't have much time left."

Huang Zong was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly asked: "Mr. Damon, when can the deposit be transferred?"

Edward didn't even turn his head. "Once you officially start the work, the deposit will be received as soon as possible."

……

Huang Zong walked into Suoyin Company with a lot on his mind and feeling depressed. He walked straight into the office without saying a word and sat on the sofa.

"What's wrong?" Yang Li came over and asked with concern.

"It's okay." Huang Zong sighed, "Damon asked us to expand the team to 500 people as soon as possible."

"Did he say when to give the deposit?" Yang Li asked, "How can we expand if they don't pay?"

"He said he would transfer the money as soon as we start work." Huang Zong leaned heavily on the sofa and said tiredly.

"Then we can start working first, and then hire people after we get the money. He doesn't know how many people we will hire by then." Yang Li suggested, "I have asked them to prepare. Let's make a sample for a few minutes and show it to them."

"Stupid!" Huang Zong scolded impatiently, "Do you think they are fools? Mr. Damon said that he would send an HR director to monitor our recruitment."

"If we say 500 people, it must be 500 people. Not one less."

"This..." Yang Li was stunned. "Where can we find people here? Besides, how much will it cost to find 500 people?"

Huang Zong suddenly stood up and walked outside.

Yang Li was a little confused, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to go outside for a walk and get some fresh air." Huang Zong replied expressionlessly.

Having just admired the spacious space of the office building, he now felt that the environment here was too small, so oppressive that he felt unable to breathe.

Huang Zong walked to the side of the road, looked at the clear and crisp autumn weather, took out a cigarette and started smoking fiercely, with all kinds of thoughts constantly popping up in his mind.

Now the contract has been signed, but his company is too small to handle such a large project in one go, and he is having some indigestion.

Let’s not talk about the production capabilities alone, the manpower alone is far from enough.

A company of fifty people expanded to five hundred people, which is a tenfold increase.

At most, he had led a team of more than 20 people. For a moment, he felt a little scared and a little regretful.

Why did I take on this big job on such a whim?

Now I can neither swallow it nor spit it out.

But it’s too late to regret now. Besides, this is not only a difficulty, but also an opportunity.

Such a big contract is enough for him to save decades of hard work.

Thinking of this, Huang Zong put out the cigarette in his hand and made up his mind. Since things had come to this point, he had no choice but to go ahead.

Edward once said it well: you need to have a broad vision and a big picture.

Before, my capital was too small and my vision was too narrow. Now it’s time to take a gamble.

Huang Zong quickly returned to the office and said to Yang Li seriously, "I have decided. We will start recruiting people right now. Tell the employees to recruit people. If they recruit someone, they will be paid 500 yuan as long as they stay and join the company."

"We need all kinds of positions, including original painting, 3D modeling, 3D animation, special effects, and animation directors. I recommend one and I'll pay 3,000 yuan."

Yang Li was stunned and couldn't help asking, "Are you really giving it to me?"

"Of course I really gave it to you. You can't catch a wolf without risking your child." Huang Zong said unhappily, "It's already this time and you're still reluctant to spend money. We're investing. How can we make big money without spending this money?"

"Also, contact your classmates right away. Call everyone you can and recruit them all. Salaries and benefits are easy to negotiate."

"It would be even better if we could get the team list and phone number of other companies. Even better would be to poach the entire team."

Yang Li panicked for a moment, "This... This is not good. This will easily offend colleagues."

"What's wrong with that? They are competitors to begin with. How can you have a good relationship with them if you don't poach their people?" Huang Zonghun said nonchalantly. "When we become prosperous, they will be eager to come and curry favor with us."

Yang Li was a little confused. "But our company doesn't have much money left in its account. I'm afraid we don't have enough money."

"It's okay. I still have some money, about hundreds of thousands." Huang Zong thought for a while, "If it doesn't work out, I can take out a loan for part of it."

"Loan?!" Yang Li hesitated, "Can I get a loan?"

"It should be possible. I'll find some connections and just give some gifts." Huang Zong said confidently, "In today's society, there is nothing that can't be done as long as you have money."

After Huang Zong made up his mind, he acted decisively. He immediately withdrew all his savings and started to take active actions.

Yang Li was also busy building connections and using all her emotional intelligence to win over her classmates.

It’s unclear how many people this couple found after all the trouble they had, but the news had already spread throughout the regular animation industry in Beijing.

Now almost everyone in the animation company knows that Suoyin Company has received a big job that requires several hundred people.

For a time, the entire animation industry in Beijing was in turmoil. Some people were jealous and envious, some were gossiping, and some were trying to curry favor with Suoyin in the hope of getting some benefits. Huang Zong was a little tired of dealing with the endless stream of visitors to Suoyin.

Many animation company bosses came to consult whether they should outsource, hoping that Huang Zong could offer some benefits to everyone.

There was no way Huang Zong was willing to share the fat meat with others, especially since the meat was not in his hands yet.

All the news in the animation industry has reached Mingyue. In addition, Suoyin Company has an insider named Liu Yuanyuan, so she can get first-hand information.

When Mingyue learned that Suoyin Company was recruiting animation talents with high salaries, she felt a sense of absurdity as if the sun was rising in the west.

This stingy company is willing to spend money?

Mingyue found Qin Shaoyan and asked directly what was in her mind, "What on earth are you doing? Suoyin Company has started bleeding itself."

"Ah?!" Qin Shaoyan was shocked. He hadn't done anything yet, so why did he commit suicide?

After Mingyue finished explaining, Qin Shaoyan smiled and said, "We have only just begun."

"No, you really want them to recruit 500 people." Mingyue was very puzzled, "I'm afraid this can't be completed?"

"Ah, these two bastards are really stupid." Qin Shaoyan picked up the phone and called Edward, "Go tell those two stupid bosses at Suoyin and introduce them to a headhunting company. How can a boss personally come out to recruit people?"

"Also, have they started the work yet? Hurry them up and don't let them dawdle."

After hanging up the phone, Qin Shaoyan sighed, "It's really a torture to work with stupid teammates. They can't even handle trivial matters like recruiting employees."

Mingyue seemed to suddenly understand something at this moment, "Are you planning to use these 500 people to directly drag down Suoyin?"

After all, the salaries of 500 people is a huge expense, and with the strength of Huang Zong and his companions, they cannot support such a large company.

"What are you thinking? It's such a pity that such a good company like Suoyin went bankrupt." Qin Shaoyan said with a smile, "I can't let it go bankrupt easily. You just need to watch me operate."

……

With Edward's guidance, Huang Zong finally remembered that there was such a thing as a headhunting company.

Professional headhunters later took over the task of recruiting people, and the HR director also moved into Suoyin Company.

Three days later, Suoyin Company moved into the office building in Jianwai SOHO. The brand new office equipment and the team that had expanded to more than 200 people had emptied Huang Zong's family assets. He had to borrow one million yuan to keep it afloat.

At this time he finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly contacted Edward, inviting him to come over for a visit.

Edward was very satisfied with the growing team, and he was even more satisfied after seeing the progress of their project. So he readily transferred the deposit to the Suoyin Company account.

Looking at the 7 million yuan that arrived in his account, Huang Zong finally felt relieved.

From now on, the whole company was finally on the right track, and Edward also promised that the remaining deposit would be deposited into the account later.

Huang Zong was in a good mood as he saw his career gradually getting better.

Then he stopped laughing.

The visit of an unexpected guest completely confused him.

Huang Zong looked at the short but elegant female office worker in front of him and was a little confused. "Ms. Xia Lian, you said you were here to deliver a lawyer's letter?"

"Yes." Xia Lian put a lawyer's letter on the table and pushed it in front of Huang Zong. "Your company has infringed our copyright. Please stop the infringement immediately, otherwise we will take legal measures to protect our legitimate rights and interests."

"Copyright?" Huang Zong was puzzled. "When did we infringe your copyright? Which company are you from?"

"Laobideng Investment Consulting Company." Xia Lian handed over the newly printed business card.

"What does your investment have to do with us making animations?" Huang Zong racked his brains but could not imagine any copyright dispute between the two.

"Then take a look at this." Xia Lian handed over a copy of the "Work Registration Book". "As far as I know, the cartoon you are producing uses our company's work."

Huang Zong was stunned when he saw the cartoon demon squirrel printed on the copy. "How is this possible?!"

Yang Li, who rushed over in a hurry, was also stunned and said angrily: "Nonsense, this is our company's work, how can it be yours? This was designed by our company's employees, you are stealing it!"

"The copyright of the Demon King Squirrel now belongs to us." Xia Lian said calmly, "If you are not satisfied, we will go to court."

Xia Lian's words silenced the other two people.

No matter what they said, it was useless. The copyright now belonged to Xia Lian, and if they wanted it back, they would have to go to court.

But first they have to prove that the Demon Squirrel belongs to their company, and they may not be able to get it back even if they sue.

Why did things develop like this?
Why was the Demon Squirrel registered by someone else?

There must be a ghost in the company!

"What exactly do you want to do?" Huang Zong thought clearly after his anger subsided. The other party must have come to him to negotiate terms.

Xia Lian smiled and said, "If you want to use this work, you have to pay."

"How much do you want?" Huang Zong asked with a frown.

"Ten million." Xia Lian raised a finger casually, "US dollars."

"This is impossible!" Huang Zong was furious and stood up. "You are blackmailing me."

The lawyer next to Xia Lian immediately said, "Sir, please stop talking nonsense. You are slandering me!"

Huang Zong was furious. The other party asked for 10 million US dollars, which meant that Suoyin Company had to give her all its profits, and it might not be enough.

Then wouldn’t I be working for nothing?
Xia Lian was not angry either. She stood up and said, "You are welcome to call me when you have thought it through. Goodbye."

After Xia Lian and others left, Huang Zong suddenly exploded in anger and overturned the entire table.

"TMD! This is too much!" Huang Zong smashed things around.

Yang Li quickly persuaded: "Husband, don't be angry first, let's think of a solution."

"What can we do?" Huang Zong yelled at Yang Li, "The copyright is in their hands now, what else can we do?"

"You idiot, why don't you go and register first? What have you been doing these days?!"

"I..." Yang Li felt very aggrieved, "I've been busy with company matters recently, and I've already found someone to apply for registration, but I didn't expect someone to get there first."

"You should have thought of it earlier. This project is so important to us. We have staked our entire fortune on it. Your negligence has ruined everything!" Huang Zong was so anxious that he jumped to his feet.

Yang Li's face turned pale and she was at a loss for a moment.

Huang Zong gradually calmed down after venting his emotions, "Wait, this is not right, the registration date of that work was before the contract was signed."

Yang Li was stunned for a few seconds before she responded, "You mean it might not be a ghost in the company?"

"Maybe it's a coincidence, maybe someone set it up." Huang Zong couldn't figure it out. "Who designed that devil squirrel?"

"It's the bright moon."

"What's her background?"

Yang Li was a little confused. "She doesn't have any background. She's just an ordinary person. I heard her family is in great difficulty."

"Could it be that she plagiarized it?" Huang Zong raised a possibility. "If it was plagiarism, our responsibility would be less."

"This..." Yang Li was also a little embarrassed because she really didn't know what was going on.

"Whether it's plagiarism or preemptive registration, we have to find Mingyue first." Huang Zong said seriously, "Once we find her, we can figure out the matter."

"What if it's not plagiarized?" Yang Li was a little panicked.

"It's better if it's not plagiarized. Let Mingyue produce evidence of her design work. The lawsuit will also be beneficial to us." Huang Zong waved his hand, "In short, we have to be prepared for both situations. Go find someone."

(End of this chapter)