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Chapter 311 A Bad Premonition

Who would have thought that in the vast landscape of the tech world, a patent company whose main business is tinkering with agricultural gene sequences and dealing with corn and soybean DNA all day long would actually be carrying a technology patent that could make Microsoft tremble?

But reality is more surreal than any script. Eolas Technology Company, with this clever cross-industry move, went from being an unknown player in the agricultural sector to a top-tier internet celebrity in the tech world after the trial, thanks to media coverage. It truly became famous overnight.

A few days ago, Google made a big move, spending $3.9 million to acquire this company that was not focused on agriculture.

When the news broke, the entire tech world was in an uproar, completely baffled by Google's intentions.

At the time, some people even joked that Ernst might have been misled by the female employees of the other party, mistaking an agricultural company for a technology company, and doubts and jokes arose one after another.

But before long, everyone was proven wrong by Google's actions.

Google filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, demanding over $21.8 billion in damages for copyright infringement and requiring Microsoft to immediately cease using the technology.

Suddenly, the onlookers went from mocking Google to watching Microsoft. $21.8 billion! If that were cash, it could fill a basketball court.

Even if Microsoft is a large and powerful company, it can't just throw money around like that, can it?

However, many people understand that this $21.8 billion claim is just a slogan-like demand from Google, like a vendor in a market shouting out high prices and waiting for customers to haggle.

However, everyone knows that even if they try to negotiate a lower price, the compensation will still be substantial. After all, this matter now involves Microsoft's operating system, and Bill Gates has already personally acknowledged the connection between the technologies. This is equivalent to Microsoft handing over the evidence of infringement to Google, leaving them with no way to deny it.

However, Microsoft is not the only victim; the University of California, San Francisco is also suffering.

This patent was originally given to Eolas to generate revenue, not something that Eolas developed itself later.

However, the Internet was just starting out at that time, and no one paid attention to this patent. By the time people remembered it, it had become Google's cash cow.

Microsoft's temporary operations headquarters was set up in a luxury villa in Washington, D.C.

The villa was decorated like a palace, with marble floors that reflected your image and dazzling crystal chandeliers, but the atmosphere inside was oppressive and suffocating.

Microsoft's core legal team is huddled around a table, nervously preparing for the second hearing the day after tomorrow, their faces etched with worry and despair.

Malcolm, Microsoft's legal chief, was as black as the bottom of a pot.

He strode into the living room and sat down next to the pale-faced Bill Gates. His voice was heavy as soon as he spoke, "I have investigated the matter thoroughly. Eolas' patent is genuine and valid, and our company has indeed infringed on the patent."

Upon hearing this, Bill Gates' face darkened even more, looking as if he had just crawled out of a coal pile.

Malcolm was intimidated by his boss's reaction, but he still forced himself to continue, "We're in a very passive position right now. If we admit that MSN is part of the operating system, as you said before, the compensation will be astronomical, and Google will definitely not leave us any room for negotiation."

"But if we overturn this claim and say that MSN has nothing to do with the operating system, that would be tantamount to admitting that MSN was bundled with other products. The Department of Justice would definitely not let this opportunity pass, and then Microsoft's antitrust charges would be completely confirmed."

The living room fell into a deathly silence, with only the ticking of the wall clock.

After a long pause, Malcolm cautiously spoke again, "Our suggestion is that we—admit to infringement."

"Are you trying to drag things out with Microsoft?" Bill Gates finally spoke, his voice tinged with weariness yet revealing the shrewdness of an old fox.

Infringement isn't a fatal issue. Even if the court rules against it, Microsoft can appeal. With its legal team, it could easily drag this case out for three to five years with Google.

Even if Microsoft ends up losing hundreds of millions of dollars, it's just a drop in the ocean and won't seriously damage its core business.

Monopolies are different. Once a monopoly is established, Microsoft will not only face huge fines, but also have to break up its businesses, which could be fatal for the company.

Bill Gates also knew that admitting infringement and dragging things out was the best option at the moment, but the thought of the situation he would face made his scalp tingle.

This whole thing started because of MSN. It was his smugness that led him to link copyright infringement with operating systems. Now, admitting to copyright infringement is like slapping himself in the face.

The media will surely be full of ridicule, and some people might even make up jokes: Who's the best at giving gifts this year? Microsoft headquarters, go to Gates.

"This is indeed the best solution right now," Malcolm said with a hint of helplessness in his voice.

If there were no antitrust case, things would be fine, but the infringement case could just drag on indefinitely.

Now that the two cases have come together, if the nature of the infringement case is not determined, the court will most likely treat the two cases as one.

Microsoft was already damaging its reputation with the antitrust case, and now that the two cases have been combined into one, the court is likely to impose the maximum penalty on Microsoft.

Microsoft could afford the $21.8 damages award, but the potential loss in stock price is unacceptable to them.

"Given MSN's user base and profitability, if handled properly, the compensation amount could potentially be reduced to below $2 million."

"If even the nature of the infringement cannot be determined, it means we have been contradicting ourselves regarding the relationship between MSN and the operating system. The judge will definitely not give us a good look, and it's basically hopeless to ask the judge to be lenient in the judgment."

Bill Gates fell silent again. He could distinguish between the serious and the trivial, but he couldn't get past his own conscience to nod readily.

Just as the two were frowning at the pile of documents on the table, Malcolm's assistant rushed over, holding a remote control, and said as he walked towards the TV, "Google suddenly wants to hold a press conference."

"A press conference?" Bill Gates and Malcolm asked in unison, their faces full of doubt.

Why is Google holding a press conference so late at night instead of preparing for court proceedings?

Besides, who holds a press conference late at night?

Bill Gates frowned. "Shouldn't this be a press conference? Why is it a briefing?"

"It's all over the internet, it really is a press conference," the assistant said, pressing the TV switch.

The moment the screen lit up, the iconic colorful IOGO of Google's Mountain View headquarters appeared on the screen.

The footage shows the entire Google headquarters brightly lit, as bright as day, and even more bustling than a shopping mall at Christmas.

The venue was packed with reporters, each holding a camera and video camera, frantically pressing the shutter button, their lenses aimed at the guests entering and leaving the venue, afraid of missing any detail.

Watching the bustling scene on television, Bill Gates sighed for no apparent reason, "Google is developing too fast."

Malcolm then shifted his gaze from the busy reporters to the background of Google headquarters in the frame.

Google's ecosystem campus has always been synonymous with ideal office spaces in the industry. Its nature-inspired design has set a new trend for office environments in American technology companies.

It's not surprising that other companies have green spaces in their office parks, but you won't find another company in the entire United States that can achieve the same level of green space as Google.

The park is full of lush trees and colorful flowers and plants, and walking in is like strolling through a park.

Moreover, the recreational facilities are so numerous that they are the envy of many, including a gym, a swimming pool, and a dedicated pet activity area. Employees can also lie on the lawn for a while when they are tired and get close to nature.

In the footage, many Google employees are still active in the campus. Some are jogging at night in sportswear, some are walking their pet dogs, and a few are sitting on the lawn, drinking coffee and chatting while holding laptops and occasionally typing on the keyboard. They look relaxed and comfortable.

Looking at this scene, Malcolm couldn't help but think: Only Google can make employees willing to stay in the company after get off work. If it were Microsoft, employees would want to rush out of the office building as soon as they got off work. Who would stay in the company? As long as employees are in headquarters, even if they are doing things unrelated to work, seeing the surrounding office scene and the way their colleagues discuss work will unconsciously make work-related thoughts pop into their minds.

There's an Eastern saying, "seeing an object reminds one of a person," while in the West it's called visual guidance. Google uses this method to keep its employees consciously engaged in their work.

Malcolm knew that Bill Gates's words, while ostensibly about Google's rapid development, were actually an expression of admiration for Google's vibrant work ethic.

Just as Malcolm was lost in thought, his eyes suddenly widened, almost bulging out of their sockets, and he abruptly turned to look at Bill Gates. "It's Meldecko? Meldecko from Compaq, what's he doing here?"

Bill Gates was also instantly drawn back to his senses by this statement. He stared at the television screen and saw that the image on the screen was that of Compaq CEO Meldeco.

Before he could process the news, the next scene completely stunned him.

Dell CEO Leadman, Apple's Steve Jobs, and even IBM's PC Group CEO Matta all appeared on camera.

The fact that the heads of the top PC manufacturers in the United States all gathered at Google headquarters gave Bill Gates an ominous feeling, as if a hand was tightly gripping his heart.

He couldn't help but recall the scene of Microsoft joining forces with major PC manufacturers to betray IBM, a memory that remains vivid to this day.

At that time, IBM's personal computers were simply an industry legend, becoming synonymous with personal PCs, with an astonishingly high market share.

However, IBM computers have a fatal weakness: more than 80% of their computer hardware is purchased from external sources, and even the most core operating system is not developed in-house.

This gave other manufacturers an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. They could freely purchase hardware to assemble computers, and the assembled computers could be compatible with IBM software, expansion cards, and peripherals.

In the field of electronics, assembling hardware is the most basic level; the difficult part is software support.

Without a suitable operating system, even the most powerful computer assembled will be incompatible and will only be a useless electronic decoration.

Microsoft seized this opportunity, joining forces with nine major PC manufacturers to pull IBM off its throne in the personal computer industry, thus creating the current fragmented landscape of the PC industry.

The bigwigs from major PC manufacturers are now gathered at Google, a scene so similar to what happened back then!

Bill Gates became increasingly panicked, and couldn't help but wonder: Is history about to repeat itself?

Is Microsoft going to become the IBM of yesteryear?

The two looked at each other and saw worry in each other's eyes.

What exactly is Google trying to do?

Is there an even bigger conspiracy hidden behind this patent war?