Artists under the Rebirth of the Coal Boss

Chapter 289 Acquiring Copyrights: A Series of Setbacks and the Growth of Ding Ye

Shanghai, SJ District, the top farmhouse restaurant.

This catering brand from Jinhua, Yuezhou Province, just entered the Shanghai market this year and opened its first store in the SJ district.

After opening, the restaurant became incredibly popular, with queues of up to 100 tables forming during peak hours, making it a local legend...

Steamed free-range chicken, braised reservoir fish, black pork wrapped in green rice straw, dried plum vegetable pancakes, stir-fried beef with wild celery...

Lin Xingzhuo, Ding Ye, and Zhang Youqian ordered a table of food. Ding Ye was accompanied by a quiet young man in his early twenties.

Lin Xingzhuo asked around and learned that the other party was the famous Zhang Koukou, who had come to Shanghai with Ding Ye to take over a business.

…………

This year, with a massive flood of 4 trillion yuan, immortals from all walks of life sent their mounts and attendants down to earth to receive the rain and dew.

Now, Sister-in-law Shen Mojun has a powerful circle of girlfriends and a governor-level backer.

In addition, she has built a rising super business empire spanning the coal and entertainment industries.

With such strength, they certainly have the capital to participate in this inflation-harvesting game...

…………

Taking advantage of this historical opportunity, the eldest sister-in-law, Shen Mojun, established a number of offshore funds in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and the British Virgin Islands.

They then used these funds to invest in the local companies newly established by their brothers, thus venturing into a host of regional real economy industries.

Thus, Zhang Koukou also became a small business owner in the wholesale market.

…………

Ding Ye opened a bottle of 88 Tunnel Sorghum Liquor that Tai Bei had brought and said:

"Attorney Xu's trip to the United States was very unsuccessful."

“Dark Horse Comics is not interested in the terms we offered; they have a stable partnership with Lionsgate.”

"I quite like his films like Hellboy and The Mask."

"X-Men and DC Comics are also backed by big companies, one is backed by 20th Century Fox and the other by Warner Bros.

"Although the financial crisis last year brought the project to a standstill, it did not damage its vitality."

"The 05 film 'Batman Begins' and last year's 'The Dark Knight' were huge successes."

"It is expected that Nolan's third film will gross more than $10 billion at the box office."

“In this situation, these DC Comics IPs are like golden hens laying golden eggs, making it even less likely that we will get involved.”

As Lin Xingzhu ate the delicate and tender braised reservoir fish, he asked, "What about King Kong? Any news on the copyright?"

Ding Ye poured Lin Xingzhuo a glass of wine and said, "The copyright of King Kong is in a huge mess... the Cooper family, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, De Laurentiis..."

"The original publishing rights to the King Kong novels, the original film rights from 1933, the film adaptation rights for all films except the 1933 one, and the rights to the 1976 remake, 'King Kong: The Legend Reborn'..."

"It's a complete mess!!"

"Xu Lu asked his senior, Wen Xu, and suggested that they wait and see."

Lin Xingzhuo asked, "Is this Wen Xu very powerful?"

Zhang Youqian was gnawing on a piece of juicy, dark red pork belly wrapped in green straw, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat. She hummed in agreement and nodded, saying:

"That's the lawyer who won the trademark dispute case against Ronghua Mooncakes. He's really amazing!"

Lin Xingzhuo helplessly drank a glass of wine, picked up a piece of stir-fried celery and beef with yellow peppers that had been cooked over high heat and was now sizzling with a strong wok hei (wok aroma), and sighed:

"The world is so big, yet we can't even buy a single IP rights. It's outrageous..."

Ding Ye took another sip of wine: "I recently watched 'Iron Man,' which was released last year, and I'm planning to have Xu Lu try his luck at Marvel."

Lin Xingzhuo picked up a dried plum and vegetable pancake and said, "No chance! Marvel has already been acquired by Disney."

Ding Ye said, "Packed up? I think Marvel Studios is still the producer of Iron Man?"

Lin Xingzhu ate the preserved vegetable pancake. The dough had a wheat aroma, the preserved vegetables were salty and sweet, and the minced meat was oily. The more he chewed, the more fragrant it became. He said as he chewed:

"The two sides had already been secretly in contact and negotiating for some time."

"Disney will acquire the intellectual property rights of more than 5000 Marvel comic book characters for $42.4 billion in cash and stock."

"This is a major event that will profoundly change the landscape of the global entertainment industry."

After listening to Lin Xingzhuo's description, Ding Ye said, "Change the global entertainment industry landscape? That's an exaggeration!"

"By the way, what about DreamWorks? Do you think there's a chance? Lawyer Xu said he's planning to try his luck there."

"I think the Zhao Bandi incident last year caused quite a stir."

"He demanded a ban on the release of 'Kung Fu Panda' on the grounds that Hollywood should not be allowed to make money in Yizhou, a city recovering from disaster, and exploit public sentiment for profit..."

"They even submitted a protest letter to the State Administration of Radio and Television and put up banners!"

"Although the release of 'Kung Fu Panda' in Chengdu was ultimately delayed by only one day, the boycott has raised concerns at DreamWorks about the acceptance of the sequel, 'Kung Fu Panda 2,' in China..."

"There are rumors that the second season of this animation is going to be canceled. We could try to buy the rights."

Lin Xingzhu recalled an old news story, put down his chopsticks and said, "This is a good suggestion. We can contact DreamWorks."

"It's not just about the Kung Fu Panda IP; we can also discuss the possibility of acquiring the entire franchise..."

Zhang Youqian picked up a piece of steamed free-range chicken leg, and after hearing Lin Xingzhuo's words, she said, "A complete acquisition? DreamWorks?!"

Lin Xingzhuo said, "Is that not allowed? We're acquiring elites!"

Ding Ye admired Lin Xingzhuo's arrogance, raised his glass to clink with Lin Xingzhuo's, and said, "Xingzhuo, you always manage to come up with something new for the company..."

…………

Three years ago, Paramount acquired DreamWorks' live-action film business.

Paramount gained access to DreamWorks' high-quality live-action film library and production capabilities, especially Spielberg's brand effect, to boost its own performance.

This allowed Paramount to reap huge profits in the stock market.

Through this deal, DreamWorks, which was struggling to stay afloat, received a much-needed boost, securing sufficient funds to focus on the animation industry and regroup!

…………

But last year's financial crisis dealt another blow to DreamWorks, completely shattering its hopes of recovery.

DreamWorks lost its live-action film business, but the labor costs for positions such as concept artists, storyboard artists, animators, texture artists, and modelers in the United States are too high.

This makes animated film production more expensive, takes longer, and results in highly volatile performance.

Following the financial crisis, DreamWorks' already precarious financial situation worsened.

Next year, the founder began seeking an exit, but failed to reach an agreement with several potential buyers due to pricing issues.

It wasn't until 2016 that they reached an agreement with Universal Pictures, a subsidiary of Comcast, to acquire DreamWorks Animation's business.

........................

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Zhang Koukou drove his BMW X5 with Lin Xingzhuo and Ding Ye to the members-only shooting club on Hongqiao Road.

The two arrived at Lin Xingzhuo's exclusive VIP lounge. Ding Ye opened a pack of Alishan cigarettes, and the two chatted privately about recent company matters. Ding Ye's trip to Shanghai was not only to discuss the acquisition of overseas special effects copyrights, but also to meet with Cai Yinong from Tangren Media.

Next year, Tangren Media will be preparing six projects, including "Scarlet Heart", "The Vigilantes in Masks", and "The Weaver Girl".

This move is seen as Tangren's final sprint before its IPO!
To generate buzz in the capital market, Tangren Media plans to establish a long-term technical partnership with Tiger Vision Group, purchasing two years of SVIP special effects technology services.

…………

Also, Old Zhao from the Bad Guys system got promoted.

This crackdown on the hidden agents infiltrating the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta, and the successful establishment of a foothold in Taibei, has deepened the connection between Tiger Eye Vision Group and the Bad Guys system.

…………

Ding Ye handed a cigarette to Lin Xingzhuo and said, "Next month, Lao Zhao will place a few people in key positions in several departments of the Jinyang Information Security Protection Center."

Lin Xingzhuo took the fancy Alishan Magic Mirror and said:

"The Bad Guys System will continue to strengthen, and it's a good thing that Jinyang Security Center has established a stable and long-term cooperative relationship with such a powerful department!"

Ding Ye said, "Has your sister-in-law told you about Gao Yue, the secretary who works for you?"

Click!

While lighting Ding Ye's fire, Lin Xingzhuo said, "When I was talking to my sister-in-law on QQ about the walkthrough of 'Hakuoki: Random Thoughts,' she mentioned this to me."

“After returning from studying in Europe, he was introduced by my sister-in-law’s best friend, who is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in ethnic vocal music. He is very efficient in handling matters, but has a very bad relationship with his parents.”

Ding Ye said, "I heard that one of her relatives is very accomplished. He taught at Fudan University and even published a book."

Lin Xingzhu lit a cigarette for himself and asked curiously, "What book?"

Ding Ye thought for a moment and said, "It's an old book from over ten years ago, I think it's called 'America ***** America'..."

Lin Xingzhuo: “…”

Ding Ye didn't notice Lin Xingzhuo's unusual expression and continued, "This Gao Yue has some strong connections. She helped Jin Yuan Huwei Coal Industry Company a lot when it entered the grassland province."

"It's a pity that her studies in Europe messed up her brain; she's got a problem with her orientation and keeps eyeing my sister-in-law. Otherwise, I would have introduced her to you."

"My sister-in-law said that Gao Yue's pilot program was very successful. Starting next year, the entire conglomerate will provide some prestigious positions to specialized talents every year."

Lin Xingzhuo exhaled a puff of smoke: "Didn't you always oppose this kind of thing and want to prioritize promoting those old guys from the mines to sit in offices and enjoy their retirement?"

Ding Ye said helplessly, "Sigh! The main problem is that the old practice of giving red envelopes when drinking in Jinyang is becoming less and less effective in megacities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen..."

"Now everyone's starting to talk about exchanging resources and exchanging positions."

"The prestigious, low-paying, close-to-home, and high-status positions that the conglomerate will offer each year are the bargaining chips for doing this."

Lin Xingzhuo asked curiously, "How did you suddenly come to your senses?"

Ding Ye awkwardly flicked his cigarette ash and said, "I only realized it after hitting a few walls."

"Even if you get approval from above, when you get to cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, you'll feel powerless when it comes to actually implementing it, like punching cotton."

"It is clearly hindered at every turn, yet it is all legal and compliant."

Lin Xingzhuo took a drag of his cigarette and laughed, "Go ahead and try your luck!"

Ding Ye, with a cigarette between his fingers, waved his hand and said, "This situation is different!"

"This isn't about seizing mining areas or any specific individual; it's about an invisible local tyrant, a force you can't see that's repelling you..."

Lin Xingzhuo somewhat understood what Ding Ye meant and said, "The relationship between Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou is a systemic and institutional one."

"The first generation commented..."

"The local systems in Shanghai and Beijing are impenetrable."

"The connections are so intertwined that a single move can affect the whole situation, reaching a stage of deep integration where the loss of one affects the entire group, and the prosperity of one benefits the entire group."

Ding Ye said, "Yes, yes, that's exactly the feeling."

"Outsiders won't be bound by any pledge of loyalty; it's very difficult to integrate into this nepotistic circle... The only way is to exchange benefits for binding them..."

Lin Xingzhuo took a drag of his cigarette and sighed, "The threshold for connections in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou is so high that many people think it's a wall, not a threshold."

…………

Lin Xingzhu recalled her experience from her previous life.

In 2022, despite the great effort involved in delivering fresh vegetables via cold chain transportation, dozens of neighborhood communities jointly resisted, refusing to distribute them on the grounds that the vegetables were not fresh.

Finally, the street sanitation company arranged for staff to clean it up and throw it all into the trash cans.
After the public outcry grew, the sanitation company took the blame and punished several temporary sanitation workers...

People who think it's okay to pour milk down the drain will buy milk at a high price.

During that period, those with connections were making money, while those without connections were spending money at home.

…………

The discussion touched on the "carrot hole" scheme created by the company for the purpose of exchanging benefits.

Ding Ye stubbed out his cigarette: "Although I broke my promise about working in an office, I won't forget my old brothers."

"My sister-in-law and I set up an internal bonus fund to distribute dividends to these brothers who have risked their lives for us every year."

"Furthermore, the expansion and strengthening of the Tiger Roaring Kirin Cinemas chain can also absorb some of its staff..."

Lin Xingzhuo exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "These past few years have been the golden age of the film market, and Tiger Roar Kirin Cinemas needs to accelerate its expansion..."

Ding Ye lit another cigarette and said, "Acquiring Golden Harvest Cinemas has secured CEPA policy qualifications, and now we've got the local bigwigs in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou under control."

"Starting next year, Tiger Roaring Kirin Cinemas will open in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou."

Lin Xingzhuo clearly sensed that Ding Ye was rapidly undergoing a kind of growth and transformation.

His semi-trailer truck operation skills have evolved from tangible large-scale transportation to intangible large-scale transportation...

Ding Ye continued, "By the way, Xing Zhuo, I've recently watched 'The Godfather' several times, and I'm planning to show it to Zhou Hongbing, Li Yao, and Ma Chao."

"Throughout the entire trilogy, without exception, you are telling us how important it is to have connections."

"First of all, having connections is not a sign of your weakness; on the contrary, it means you are qualified to participate in this exchange of benefits."

"If someone wants to find connections to resolve a matter but has no one to turn to, it only means that their worth and qualifications are insufficient to do this business with others."

"In short, your pride and abilities are not respected by others..."

Lin Xingzhuo said, "What should we do now?"

Ding Ye said, "He'd send his mother a semi-trailer or a dump truck or something, or bring it to my students in Wa State. He's building some kind of telecommunications industrial park..."

Lin Xingzhuo said, "..."

........................

The two smoked half a pack of cigarettes in the club's VIP lounge.

Ding Ye was itching to try his hand at shooting, and Lin Xingzhuo, who wanted to learn from him, called his personal trainer, Talia Shelbia, to arrange the venue and targets.

(End of this chapter)