Chapter 933 Xiao Han, you can’t control the water depth of the LNG ship...
“Mr. Chang, do you need to ask the comrades from the legal department to handle this?”
Looking at Chang Haonan with a gloomy expression on his face, Lei Zhixing asked tentatively.
?Of course, as a purely scientific research institution, Torch Laboratory does not have a legal department.
?However, Torch Group has—
In fact, long before TORCMultiphysics was officially released, in order to adapt to the intellectual property and computer software-related laws and regulations of other countries, Chang Haonan entrusted Teacher Yang Huimei to set up a legal department with a wide range of business scope.
Over the years, the reason why the Torch Group''s products and services have been able to flow unimpeded in many countries is that it has never encountered any case worth writing about. Apart from its own strength, Chang Haonan and some small local tycoons. In addition to good relationships with influential companies, rigorous, detailed and timely updated user manuals also play a very important role.
?However, that’s why.
Compared to its struggling counterparts in other companies, Torch Group''s legal department is still slightly less experienced in practical operations, that is, in litigation.
"Well…"
?Chang Haonan hesitated for a moment, but then nodded:
“I’ll contact Professor Yang and Director Song and hold a meeting between various departments of the group...”
"good!"
?Lei Zhixing showed a relieved expression:
“They should be taught a lesson by stealing our patent so blatantly!”
You know, in this round of the overall game on the technical route of the second-generation membrane LNG ship, even if it is not a matter of life and death, there is a high probability that the party that wins in the end will be the winner-take-all, while the loser will have to wait for at least the next 10-15 years. It is difficult for anyone to raise their head again in this field, and they can only survive on scraps.
Originally, the Hudong plant, which had lost the opportunity, had made strategic plans to give up the past ten years. However, at the most critical moment, it was revitalized by the BOG re-liquefaction patent developed by Chang Haonan. At least it saw victory. possible.
??But if Samsung Offshore also uses the same level of re-liquefaction technology, then relying on the inherent lightweight advantage of the Technigaz cargo tank, China will have no chance of winning.
Therefore, for Lei Zhixing, who has been working on this project for two years, this is tantamount to being jumped in the face and ridiculed.
Being able to maintain rationality without being hot-tempered is already considered a mild-tempered person.
?However, seeing the other party''s excited reaction, Chang Haonan just touched his nose in embarrassment:
"Well…"
“Actually, Zhixing, the actual situation may be a little different from what you think…”
?Lei Zhixing’s expression suddenly froze:
"Mr. Chang, what do you mean..."
"never mind."
Chang Haonan waved his hand:
“You’ll find out at the meeting tomorrow.”
His thoughts cannot be clearly explained in a few sentences.
??Furthermore, Lei Zhixing is currently in a state of anger, so it is not suitable for him to talk about too in-depth topics.
Therefore, after getting started, Chang Haonan decided not to waste words for the time being and wait until the meeting to discuss it together...
…
??The Torch Group itself is actually not very large, so it won’t take long to convene a meeting of middle- and high-level leaders.
Chang Haonan made a call, and the next morning, except for Wei Yongming, who was not directly related to the matter and couldn''t leave, all the other department heads sat in the conference room.
As usual, Song Jingming made a simple opening statement and gave a general introduction to the current situation.
?At this time, not only Lei Zhixing, but also most of the participants felt angry and funny.
The reasons for anger are naturally similar to the former.
Are you laughing...
?This kind of blatant theft of technology is simply food for the legal department...
For a time, the atmosphere in the conference room became lively.
In the end, it was Chang Haonan who stretched out his hand and pressed it down to calm down the already somewhat off-topic debate.
?However, it is not that there are calmer people.
After the conference room became quiet again, Kang Kaicai, director of the External Relations Department in charge of external cooperation, asked:
"Mr. Chang, although I don''t quite trust the character of Samsung Offshore Engineering, the other party''s experience in international commercial law and transnational patent rights is much richer than ours. Even if we consider it purely from a rational perspective, it is unlikely that the other party will expose it. It’s only right to give us such a big loophole.”
“So, will there be anything behind this...”
?At this time, China has only joined the WTO for a year, so domestic companies will show some inexperience in dealing with international trade disputes.
?Even in many cases, we just accept the loss and admit defeat.
This naturally includes Torch Group.
It can be said that, except for members of the legal affairs and external relations departments, other people still have a partial understanding of these contents.
Chang Haonan is holding this meeting today. In addition to deploying his own plans, he is also taking this opportunity to train everyone''s troops.
?So, he nodded, agreeing with Kang Kai’s view, and then turned to the head of the legal department and an expert in international commercial law, Dr. Hou Shunda:
“Director Hou, please explain the situation in detail.”
"good."
?Hou Shunda opened the folder in front of him unhurriedly:
“Although I understand the sentiments of all comrades, as a legal officer, I still have to pour cold water on everyone to cool down the situation.”
“Last night, we compared the previously registered patent description document with the design document disclosed by Samsung Offshore Engineering, and finally confirmed..."
At this point, he paused slightly:
“It was finally confirmed that the other party basically avoided our group’s patent on the BOG reliquefaction system. Although there are some marginal areas, if a lawsuit is filed on this basis, I am afraid that the dispute will last for a long time..."
"What?!"
?Lei Zhixing, who was originally full of expectations, immediately sat up straight.
He only knew that Chang Haonan had registered a patent for the BOG reliquefaction system, but as a technician, he had not actually read the relevant legal documents sentence by sentence.
It is naturally difficult to accept it now.
"calm."
Chang Haonan did not change his expression, but stretched out his finger and tapped the table lightly.
In fact, he knew this would be the case when he saw the design document for the first time yesterday.
The reason why he was extremely shocked at that time had another reason. “Actually, the liquefaction process itself of the BOG reliquefaction system, whether it is cascade type, refrigerant type, or expander type, is a fairly mature technology in the chemical industry.”
Facing a group of subordinates with different reactions, Chang Haonan slowly opened his mouth and explained:
“Their core patents have been registered as early as last century, or even last century, and now the protection period has expired. No one can re-apply for a patent based on these contents.”
“Of course, we can register patents for some bits and pieces of peripheral technologies to obtain certain protection. However, this registration method is very easy to be bypassed, especially for an experienced player like Samsung Offshore Engineering, so it makes sense. Not big either.”
“So, when I submitted the patent application, I changed my mind and registered a large number of patents focused on the adaptation between the reliquefaction system and the cargo tank, as well as the reliability design of the entire ship.”
“At that time, I felt that as everyone was professional in shipbuilding, they should be able to see that this system would have an impact on the hull structure itself, so no matter what path our competitors took in liquefaction technology, they would eventually have to come to us to solve safety issues. "
“What I never expected was that someone was so bold that he changed the design we made to ensure safety beyond recognition, and then he didn’t even test it, and just drew it directly on the design plan..."
Chang Haonan said helplessly, holding his forehead with one hand and shaking his head.
The core technical principles of this BOG reliquefaction system were basically developed by him alone. No matter the Hudong plant, Lei Zhixing and Liu Fangping, they can only understand the specific design plan at present.
That''s why there is this oolong.
Actually, from the perspective of hindsight, he did underestimate the Korean people’s urinary nature.
? In the previous life, South Korea also did similar things when developing its own KUH1 "Perfect Eagle" helicopter (actually a copy of the Super Puma).
Because I did not go through detailed examination, I just thought about it for a while and then blindly changed the propeller hub. As a result, the main rotor of a helicopter directly separated from the fuselage during flight and flew away...
?Thinking about it this way, the things in front of me seem to have a hint of reasonableness in the absurdity...
…
For a time, the expressions of other people in the conference room were very exciting.
"so…"
?Lei Zhixing, who was so excited that he almost banged the table, inevitably felt a little embarrassed at this moment:
“Actually, we don’t need to care about this matter at all?”
“That’s not the case.”
Chang Haonan waved his hand:
"After all, the other party still made some marginal moves, and the design plan obviously borrowed a lot from us. Even if the lawsuit cannot reach a final result, it can allow the comrades in the legal department to practice their skills, and by the way, help us Torch Group and Hudong Factory to Wave publicity.”
“I’m thinking now, should I take the initiative to remind Samsung Offshore Engineering that the risks behind this technology are not small, and if you mess around, something could easily happen...”
?At this time, even Kang Kai and Hou Shunda were a little confused:
"Mr. Chang, is this... unnecessary?"
“Yeah, if we don’t add fuel to the flames from behind, it would be a big favor for them…”
“If something goes wrong with Samsung Offshore’s LNG ship, wouldn’t that be a huge benefit to us?”
…”
?All kinds of doubts arise one after another.
Actually, Chang Haonan was a little hard to make a choice at this time.
“On the surface, it is indeed what you said.”
He frowned slightly and rubbed the acupuncture points on both sides of the bridge of his nose:
“But the beasts like Samsung Offshore...these guys are so courageous. If those LNG ships are put into use, I can’t even estimate how much trouble there will be..."
In fact, if this is a normal transaction, Party A will also conduct relevant testing before receiving the goods, and there is a high probability that substandard products will be kept out.
But the problem is that this wave of Xizhuer is to deceive and sneak attacks.
Norwegians simply don’t wait for delivery before they start their classic operation.
In the end, these eight LNG ships will definitely be sold as second-hand ships to an unknown buyer.
And the degree of regulation of this kind of transaction is uncertain.
"What if Samsung Offshore inherits the glorious tradition of the Japanese and controls the risk within a very precise range, resulting in no detection during the testing process, but a big problem occurs after it is put into use...for example, it explodes, then for The entire LNG transportation industry is probably a major blow.”
"Ordinary people don''t care whether the cargo tank you use is Gas-Transport or Technigaz, nor do they care whether your ship is made by Samsung Offshore Engineering or Hudong-Zhonghua. If it really explodes, I''m afraid the major ports will be affected the next day. We have to refuse LNG ships to dock... This is also a big risk for us.”
"in addition."
?Chang Haonan picked up the tea cup and took a sip of water, and then continued to add:
“Although it sounds outrageous, in the eyes of many foreigners, several countries in East Asia are actually tied together...”
“Japanese companies only made a splash a few years ago. If Korean companies start to make a splash soon after, it may not be a good thing for our image..."
?This explanation made the other people''s expressions become solemn again.
"Isn''t this a pure and innocent disaster..."
?Kang Kai complained ventingly.
But complaints are complaints. As the head of the external relations department, he knows that the situation mentioned by Chang Haonan does exist.
In 2001, China''s influence was still at a relatively low level.
It is true that we have not yet gotten rid of the shackles of the classification of “East Asia”.
"Then...does it mean we have to rush to wipe their butts?"
?Lei Zhixing also found it a bit difficult to accept.
“Of course that’s impossible…we’re not doing charity.”
?Chang Haonan decisively denied it.
For a time, everyone fell into the same tangle as him.
No matter what choice you make, there are pros and cons.
? And because there are so many variables, it’s difficult to choose the lesser of two evils.
After a few minutes, Chang Haonan finally decided to cut the knot quickly:
"never mind."
He took a deep breath:
“The lawsuit against Samsung Offshore Engineering is actually a wake-up call for them.”
“If the opponent insists on being stubborn, then we are not their parents, so there is no need to wait behind them. We can just cut them in advance to reduce the impact on us as much as possible..."
“The meeting is dismissed!”
(End of this chapter)