Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

After considering it for a moment, the leader said slowly, "Zhang Dabiao, I'm still very curious about your idea of ​​getting a patent."

"Since you intend to donate to the country, you're probably not solely motivated by profit. I believe what you're saying. But could you explain it to me in more detail?"

Why is it necessary to register patents internationally?

After hesitating for a long time, Zhang Dabiao finally decided to give the country a heads-up. He asked Qin Jingru to add water to everyone's teacups, offered cigarettes, and started chatting.

"Alright, since you're curious, I'll be frank."

"Regarding the desire to make money, I admit it. Who doesn't want to make money? Why can't I make money legally and legitimately?"

Before Liu Pangpang and Tian Baocheng's uncle could even raise their objections, Zhang Dabiao continued talking to himself.

"Look, even writing articles for newspapers and magazines, or publishing a book, involves royalties and taxes, right?"

"The book cover also says, 'Written by so-and-so.'"

"You can become famous and make money at the same time."

"And I create inventions that can revive a factory, create jobs, and even earn foreign exchange for the country."

"I want a patent to prove my worth and make more money. Isn't that a reasonable idea?"

"Did I break any laws? This is my hard-earned money!"

After thinking about it for a while...

That seems to make sense, doesn't it?

"But... there are reward regulations for inventions and creations, so you're not objecting to..." Tian Baocheng's uncle was about to object, but the contribution of inventions and creations seemed a bit off compared to the fame and fortune of those literati and scholars.

"I absolutely agree with and support the national reward policy."

"I just want a patent to prove that I invented this thing. Is that too much to ask?"

The leader thought for a moment: "It's not excessive, but there's no precedent for this in our country, and if you need proof, the ministry can issue it, so why bother registering a patent abroad?"

"That was to make our voice heard internationally, to prove that this thing belongs to our country, and that I created it."

The leader still didn't understand, frowning as he said, "But you said before that you registered the patent to make money. Isn't this a contradiction, going around in circles?"

Zhang Dabiao continued to explain: "There are two situations. For example, after registration, if a domestic manufacturer wants to produce it, I can grant them a free license, and they can use it however they want."

"But the ministry also needs to manage and regulate it. Those with authorization can produce this product, but those who copy or imitate it without authorization should be fined."

"Why? Everyone knows this stuff is profitable, and if everyone starts producing it, wouldn't that ruin the plan?"

"If there is too much production and the public cannot absorb so much inventory, then prices can only keep falling, and the market will be completely disrupted."

The leader nodded: "What you said makes a lot of sense. So, what use is this patent to foreign countries?"

"Since you've brought up patents, you should understand that Western capitalist countries value them highly, but here—"

The leader's words had a hidden meaning: the red camp doesn't value this kind of thing.

Zhang Dabiao lit a cigarette with the hand-cranked lighter they brought—now that hand-cranked lighters are available, he should be able to bring lighters out of his "little nest" in the future, right?

"Let me give you an example. If some of our country's good technologies are not patented internationally."

"One day, foreign guests or delegations come to visit, for example—to see the manufacturing process and production flow of Xuan paper or cloisonné."

"In this situation, the higher-ups would usually allow it, right?"

The leader nodded.

"When the delegation visits, they ask some technical questions, and we arrange for our factory's technicians to explain things to the foreign guests, right?"

Everyone nodded repeatedly; this was the basic procedure.

"But what if there are spies, or commercial spies, in the inspection team who take pictures of the process and procedures with small cameras?"

"If they go back to their country and do it, they can produce it too, and because of their advanced industrialized production lines, they can produce it better, faster, and at a lower cost!"

"Then they flooded the international market with their products, and even dumped them domestically—what can we do?"

"Furthermore, they were the first to register patents internationally, claiming that this thing was an improved formula they developed, or simply their own invention. Other countries wanting this technology have to pay them patent fees!"

"What do you think we should do then?"

"The technology was stolen, the market disappeared, the factory went bankrupt, and workers were laid off—even worse, the international community might even think that Xuan paper and cloisonné are products of their country!"

At this point, Liu Haizhong suddenly slammed his fist on the table in righteous indignation—

"They dare?!"

……

Zhang Dabiao's teacup was knocked over by his slap.

Zhang Dabiao was speechless. He could only silently pick up the cup, ask Qin Jingru to come and tidy it up, and said helplessly, "Why don't they dare?"

"They have patents."

Tian Baocheng's uncle retorted, "But these things are traditional cultural products of our country!"

"How can you say it's not from our country just because of a patent?"

"Not everyone knows China. He's just buying something; he doesn't care which country the technology comes from." Zhang Dabiao shrugged helplessly. Wasn't my explanation clear enough?

"this……"

Everyone fell silent. Thinking about it according to Zhang Dabiao's line of reasoning, it really was a possibility.

The leader smoked an entire cigarette before speaking slowly.

"But Zhang Dabiao, even if you register the patent, they'll still copy your product after they see it, won't they?"

"What can you do if he doesn't pay patent fees? Our country doesn't have diplomatic relations with Western countries, so they won't pay you for your patents."

Zhang Dabiao smiled and said, "Yes, just like that factory before. They knew we were the ones who made it, but as soon as they copied it, our factory had to go bankrupt."

"Patents may not be able to restrain them, but we can condemn them for copying."

"One day, countries will engage in various forms of trade. If you copy my work without paying, I can copy yours too, right?"

"Let's all hurt each other!"

"You want us to abide by patent laws too? Fine, but first make up for the economic losses caused by copying my patents before we talk."

"I want this thing so I can have a legitimate reason to collect debts in the future, whether I can actually collect them or not is another matter."

"But the greater good is on my side, or rather, on our side."

At this point, Zhang Dabiao stopped, and everyone understood.

The leader hesitated for a moment and muttered, "Use their patent law to attack their plagiarism?"

"If they comply, then we'll have to pay them."

"Just because they don't comply, does that mean we can copy and imitate at will?"

"Using their own weapon against them?"

"A calculated scheme?"

Liu Haizhong listened from the side, completely bewildered.

It's just an invention, why is it being brought up with military strategy?