Chapter Thirty-Nine: The First Alliance

Even Yao Luoying, who had been the first to propose filing a lawsuit, was stunned at this moment. It was true that she had suggested legal action, but she certainly hadn't meant suing Microsoft!

Hu Zixian couldn't help but swallow hard as he sought confirmation from Li Dongling, "We are suing Microsoft?!"

What kind of entity was Microsoft? With a market capitalization exceeding forty billion US dollars—which, when converted to domestic currency, amounted to three hundred and twenty billion—the concept was so vast that describing it as "wealthier than a nation" would be no exaggeration.

For Dongling High-Tech to sue Microsoft—let alone outsiders, even Yao Luoying, Hu Zixian, and Gao Peng felt it was absurd. It felt no different from a mayfly shaking a tree or an ant trying to topple an elephant. Aside from adding a bit of comic relief to the situation, they couldn't see any other purpose.

Seeing that Li Dongling clearly wasn't joking, Hu Zixian said, "Even if we file a lawsuit against Microsoft domestically, there might not be a court willing to take our case! Furthermore, fighting a legal battle against Microsoft will cost too much money. Even with patents, there is no guarantee we can win!"

Hu Zixian explained to Li Dongling that litigation was essentially burning money. Especially when battling a giant corporation, even if they burned through all the cash in Dongling High-Tech’s accounts, it might not make a dent in Microsoft.

As for patents, they were indeed useful, but it depended on how they were used. If two giants of similar stature were locked in combat, a single axe could decide the outcome, and the giant wielding it could secure an advantage. But if the party was an ordinary person, it was a different story.

The same applied to patents. Even if they could prove Microsoft had "borrowed" from Dongling High-Tech, so what? They might not win the lawsuit and could even become trapped in an endless cycle of delays. Dongling High-Tech did not have that kind of time to waste.

After listening to Hu Zixian and the others, Li Dongling paused for a moment before saying, "Dongling High-Tech will not only sue Microsoft domestically, but we will also initiate lawsuits against Microsoft in Europe, America, and other regions!"

Hu Zixian felt even more desperate. If they couldn't win on their own turf, the idea of winning a lawsuit on Microsoft's home ground was nothing but a delusion.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend!"

"Dongling High-Tech might not be without a chance. If we don't sue, Dongling High-Tech will be stained with this filth forever and will never be able to hold its head up again!"

Li Dongling said. He was well aware that Dongling High-Tech had no chance of winning on its own, but Microsoft was not yet the "Great Demon King" of the future; it hadn't reached the point where it could distort reality and call a deer a horse at will.

Li Dongling felt it was time to organize the first anti-Microsoft alliance and turn up the pressure on them. Even if they ultimately lost, they must not let Microsoft have an easy time. As long as there was a first anti-Microsoft alliance, there would be a second and a third. Even if they couldn't kill Microsoft, they would make its reputation so putrid that it would become a pariah, chased by everyone. Bill Gates should have to worry about getting a pie thrown in his face while walking down the street. The richest man in the world should live in misery and become the number one villain...

"Formally announce tomorrow that Dongling High-Tech will initiate a lawsuit against Microsoft!"

"Gao Peng, contact the lawyers and file a lawsuit against the New Tech Express domestically!"

Li Dongling knew that the second son of the Gao family was a lawyer. Using someone from their own side felt safer, at least ensuring there wouldn't be any unexpected tricks.

"Manager Hu, reduce production at the Yangcheng plant, but do not stop production!"

"The technical department must continue developing digital cordless phones; R&D cannot stop!"

After Li Dongling finished giving instructions to everyone in the office, he left Hu Zixian and Gao Peng to guard the home base.

"I am going overseas to initiate the lawsuit against Microsoft!" Li Dongling said finally. This overseas trip was something he had to make; he was the only one who could go.

Yao Luoying was a step behind. After the others left, she turned back to Li Dongling and said, "Chairman Li, I will go with you!"

Looking at Yao Luoying's face, Li Dongling hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. If Yao Luoying went, she could indeed help handle some matters, sparing Li Dongling from having to worry about every single detail.

"What? Going abroad?!"

"You are a young woman; what does it look like for you to go abroad with a grown man!"

At the dinner table, upon hearing that Yao Luoying was going abroad with Li Dongling for the lawsuit, Han Liuping immediately exploded.

"Mom, what are you thinking? We are going to handle official business!" Yao Luoying muttered to Han Liuping.

Compared to Han Liuping, Yao Zhengru’s reaction was much calmer. He set down his chopsticks and asked Yao Luoying, "Did Dongling High-Tech really not copy Microsoft’s product?"

"No!"

Yao Luoying said firmly, "I don't know how the two sides ended up colliding, but I watched the development of the Silver Marten mouse from beginning to end, and I entrusted a Hong Kong patent agency to apply for the patent. There couldn't have been a mistake!"

Yao Zhengru fell into deep thought. Currently, the technology media was in a frenzy of public opinion against Dongling High-Tech, making it seem like a hot potato. But what if Dongling High-Tech actually won the lawsuit?!

Although he felt the hope was slim and considered it impossible, if they did win, Pingyang City might see a tech giant emerge like Stone, Giant, or Wanyan. And he, Yao Zhengru, who oversaw industry and commerce in Pingyang, knew well that adding flowers to a brocade is easy, but providing fuel in snowy weather is rare—the latter was far more impactful than the former!

"Going abroad to see the world will broaden your horizons and increase your experience!"

As soon as Yao Zhengru said this, Han Liuping nearly dropped her chopsticks again. Yao Zhengru added, "I’ll find someone to accompany Yingying; that should put your mind at ease, right?"

"Only you and your daughter have all the logic; I’m the villain, aren't I?"

Han Liuping glared at Yao Zhengru with dissatisfaction, but after returning to the room, she still packed a large suitcase full of clothes and supplies for Yao Luoying.

The next day, Dongling High-Tech used the name of the Silver Marten mouse to issue a notice through the Pingyang Daily, announcing the formal initiation of a lawsuit against Microsoft!

Once the news broke, it was immediately scrambled over by domestic technology media. This could be called the biggest "gossip" in the domestic tech industry for the new year—a company that no one had ever heard of dared to declare that it would sue the largest company in the global technology industry.

Even Computer News reported the story, though they remained relatively objective, not declaring who was right or wrong, merely stating that there was a dispute between Dongling High-Tech and Microsoft. Other media outlets, however, did not care as much, heaping mockery and sarcasm upon Dongling High-Tech.

At a golf course in Beijing, a group of executives from the Stone Group were present. The current and third head of Stone, Duan Yongji, along with the head of finance and real estate, Chu Zhong, Vice President Li Yuzhuo, and Vice Chairman Li Wenjun, were all there.

Last year, Stone completed its listing in Hong Kong, becoming the leader among domestic private companies with annual revenue nearing three billion, far surpassing a host of later companies. Neither Giant nor Nande could hold a candle to them.

A large number of talents had also come out of Stone, including Qiu Bojun and Wang Zhidong, who had only joined Stone a few years prior and had not yet founded Sina; all had honed their skills at Stone.

Now, Stone had invested in a large number of companies including real estate, securities, and medical care, and had established offices in major cities across the country. Even the people on this golf course weren't entirely sure how large Stone's current scale was, let alone whether those businesses were profitable. However, that did not affect Stone's ability to make money from its typewriter business, with revenue consistently hitting record highs.

"Bang!"

Li Wenjun swung his golf club and said with a smile to Duan Yongji, "Have you seen today’s newspaper? A small company in Hanxi actually announced it is going to sue Microsoft!"

Hearing this, a burst of laughter erupted among the group on the golf course. They clearly viewed the matter as a bizarre curiosity. Even Stone didn't dare provoke Microsoft; a company they had never heard of daring to defy the world to sue Microsoft made them feel that Dongling High-Tech was merely grandstanding.

Li Yuzhuo did not laugh, but instead said, "What if Dongling High-Tech was actually wronged?"

"Old Li, I know you are inclined toward young people who do actual technology. We are the same; who wouldn't hope for more young people truly dedicated to technology? Didn't we come from that path ourselves? But this matter is truly..."

As he spoke, Duan Yongji couldn't help but smile, feeling it was truly absurd. "Tell you what, if this Dongling High-Tech really goes through with suing Microsoft, win or lose, when they get back, we'll meet him. If we can really help, we'll give him a hand!"

For the current Stone, Dongling High-Tech was truly insignificant. Duan Yongji’s remark about meeting Li Dongling was merely a joke—a way to amuse himself by seeing what kind of madman would dare to go head-to-head with Microsoft.

While the domestic technology industry was still in an uproar, Li Dongling, Yao Luoying, Yang Zhigao, and another woman in her thirties—who was introduced as a relative of Yao Luoying—boarded a plane.

However, this flight was not heading to America, but to Switzerland—the home base of Logitech!