The next day, Zheng Feng started settlement negotiations in a conference room with representatives of Sanqing and a group of patent lawyers.
Litigation cases in Eagle Country are usually accompanied by lawyers from both sides for a routine out-of-court settlement negotiation before going to court.
This is a necessary process, after all, not every party wants to be involved in a protracted litigation.
Unless it is a dispute over the ownership of the CRISPR technology patent, the two parties cannot share it and can only fight to the death.
In the matter of Sanqing patent infringement, the plaintiff has only two demands, one is to ban it, and the other is to pay money. It is obvious that everyone can see that the latter is the main demand, so out-of-court settlement is undoubtedly the best choose.
The representative of Sanqing is Yang Haoran, the general manager of the overseas branch, who also brought a laptop computer.
After both parties took their seats, he placed the computer on the main seat. After some operations, a young and handsome face appeared on the screen.
"Hello, Mr. Wei, the meeting is about to start. This is Dr. Zheng Feng from the Broad Institute, and their lawyer..."
Yang Haoran introduced both parties one by one with a smile: "Dr. Zheng, this is the director of health of our Sanqing Group, and our lawyer..."
"The General Health Council is on site to observe the matter. The reconciliation is mainly negotiated by me. Of course, if necessary, the General Health Council will also speak."
Zheng Feng looked at the opposite side curiously. Wei Kang's name had always been familiar to him, and today he finally saw the real person.
This face is just like the one in the legend. It is a little too young, with sharp features and heroic eyebrows. From the appearance, it looks more like a movie star than a well-known entrepreneur.
The other party looked very calm, with his limbs stretched out and his body leaning back on the chair. His whole person showed a sense of relaxation and confidence, as if he was not facing a lawsuit, but an internal company meeting.
A hint of envy arose in his heart. Such a rich and handsome man was rare in the Eagle Kingdom. Moreover, he turned the tide, reborn from the crisis, established his own pharmaceutical empire, and even surpassed the rich second generation around the world. street.
However, he quickly suppressed this emotion, and instead felt a sense of pride and pride.
He rose from humble beginnings and became a question writer from the bottom with nothing, and now he has gained both fame and fortune and has a bright future.
Even people like Wei Kang, who were unattainable in the past, now have to sit at the same table with him, negotiate, be manipulated by him, and have to obediently hand over the proceeds from genetic drugs.
The stronger the opponent is, the more intense his pleasure will be when harvesting.
I wonder how long your relaxed look can last?
He sneered in his heart, but a friendly and kind smile appeared on his face, and he greeted Wei Kang in a friendly manner.
"For your own good, I will look up to you for a long time."
Wei Kang nodded, smiled in return, and waited quietly for the peace talks to begin.
Today's first round of out-of-court settlements is just the beginning of a long road to litigation.
He has conveyed the general intention of the company to Yang Haoran and asked him to take full charge of the lawsuit.
Just listen first and ask if you have any questions.
This lawsuit is a tough battle, far from the peaceful one shown now.
He knew deeply that the key to determining the outcome of this lawsuit was not on the scene, but outside the scene.
I have to say that the lawyers on both sides are very professional. They are all well-known patent lawyers in Eagle Country. They are very famous and very expensive.
First, the lawyer appeared, and after a heated exchange of words, he began to stab the enemy with blood, and it was serious.
"Sanqing's genetic drug for thalassemia uses our gene editing technology, but it did not obtain our authorization and did not pay any patent fees. This is an absolute infringement."
"This is the evidence we have collected. It is ironclad, including samples of genetic drugs, the testimony of the Mayo Clinic hematologist, evidence of the patient's treatment, and proof of payment. All of these can prove that Sanqing not only committed serious infringements, but There are also a lot of illegal gains.”
The Broad Institute lawyer threw out a thick stack of supporting documents.
Sanqing's lawyer watched and rebutted.
"First of all, the patent of CRISPR technology has always been controversial. You only have the ownership of Eagle Country. In Europa and China, this patent belongs to the University of California team, while Sanqing belongs to a Chinese company and has obtained a patent license in China early. "
"Even in Eagle Country, you only obtained this patent recently, and the University of California team has been filing lawsuits. The final result is difficult to determine. It is doubtful whether it will still belong to you."
"After Sanqing's genetic medicine was launched, I have been contacting the Broad Institute to discuss the issue of patent authorization in Eagle Country, but I have never received a reply."
"Oh? Is this happening? Why didn't I know?" Zheng Feng suddenly interjected with a surprised look on his face.
"I have emails here as evidence." The lawyer looked at him calmly and showed an email.
It was an email sent by Sanqing's patent staff to the Broad Institute, which proposed patent licensing cooperation in English three months ago, when Sanqing had just started clinical trials in Yingguo. .
Zheng Feng laughed: "This is not my mailbox. I don't know if it is normal. I can confirm that our staff did not receive this email. After all, you know, Huaxia's email address can easily be treated as spam." intercept, I often miss emails from my Chinese friends.”
The lawyer next to him nodded: "This doesn't mean anything. Sanqing is still infringing the law. Even if there is no response to the email, you can come directly to the door to talk."
Yang Haoran coughed lightly and said, "Let's be direct. What is your request?"
Zheng Feng and the lawyer looked at each other and remained silent.
The lawyer from the Broad Institute looked solemn and said slowly: "We require Sanqing to apologize to the global media for the infringement and pay patent fees for all thalassemia gene drugs on the market. All genetic drugs that have been in clinical trials before We must also make up the payment, and if there is any infringement in the future, huge compensation will be required.”
"Otherwise, we will submit a lawsuit to the court to prohibit Sanqing from using any CRISPR technology globally and compensate us for US$2 billion in infringement costs."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Haoran sat up straight and blurted out: "This is impossible."
Sanqing's lawyer's expression also turned ugly.
There was no change in Wei Kang's expression on the screen, except for a cold light flashing in his eyes.
The lawyer from the Broad Institute said with a straight face: "These are our conditions. If you don't agree, we will have to go to court."
Yang Haoran said with a livid face: "You have no sincerity in reconciling at all. Whether you appear in court or not, these conditions are too harsh."
Sanqing's lawyer also said: "Dr. Zheng, we respect the Broad Institute's patents very much, but this is not a reasonable solution. I hope you can relax the conditions and talk again."
Yang Haoran added: "I want to reiterate that there is absolutely no way we can apologize."
"Haha," the lawyer from the Broad Institute sneered: "If you respect this patent, you will not commit infringement. Now that we have this patent, its potential in gene therapy is very huge. You are very welcome." It has seriously infringed on our technology patents, so it is very normal and reasonable to apologize."
Sanqing's lawyer shook his head: "But you only own this patent in Eagle Country. My client has not infringed upon it in China and other regions, so how can you apologize globally."
The other party's lawyer was speechless and immediately changed his words: "Then we have to apologize publicly in the media of Yingguo. Sanqing has many patients in Yingguo now. They all must know that this technology belongs to my client, not Sanqing, Sanqing." Just stealing the work of the Broad Institute.”
Yang Haoran said angrily: "What are you talking about? For the genetic medicine we worked so hard to develop, you just provided the underlying technology, and we co-authored it in vain. It's all your result, right? The patent for the thalassemia genetic medicine is Ours is not your Broad Institute’s.”
"If it really doesn't work, even if we withdraw from the Eagle Country market, we will never apologize."
"If you want to go to court, just wait and see, we are not afraid."
A trace of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Broad Institute lawyer. He didn't expect the other party to be so tough, so he had to bite the bullet and said: "Haha, I hope you won't regret it. Without a gene editing tool as easy as CRISPR technology, you would have no ability to continue. Research and Development of Genetic Drugs for Thalassemia.”
Yang Haoran laughed angrily and said: "It sounds like if you have CRISPR technology, you can develop thalassemia gene drugs. Open your eyes and see, apart from our Sanqing, which other company in the world has used CRISPR technology to develop gene drugs?" drug?"
The opposing lawyer was speechless for a moment and opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but was unable to refute.
Because apart from Sanqing, there is no other company that uses CRISPR technology to develop genetic drugs.
Seeing that the two sides were at war with each other, they were about to break up.
At this time, Zheng Feng smiled and said, "Don't be so angry, everyone. If you have anything to say, please speak up."
"Actually, we don't care whether we apologize or not. Sanqing is a world-renowned pharmaceutical giant and is unwilling to apologize for fear of affecting its reputation. I can understand this."
"We are honored that Sanqing can use our patents to develop genetic drugs and treat so many patients. At the same time, this indirectly proves the feasibility and practicality of our technology. We are not happy enough."
"I have long admired President Wei, and I have always wanted to cooperate with a world-class pharmaceutical company like Sanqing. Unfortunately, I have never had the opportunity. I hope to cooperate with Sanqing on CRISPR patents from now on."
As he spoke, he looked at Wei Kang: "We are all decent people. There is no need to argue over this false reputation. Let's do this. Then we don't ask for an apology. We just need to pay the patent fee. How about that?"
Wei Kang stared at him for a while, then suddenly showed a meaningful smile: "Okay."
Yang Haoran nodded: "Then how to pay the patent fee?"
Sanqing's lawyer said coldly: "As far as I know, applying this gene editing technology in basic research does not require a patent license. Only the parts that are truly commercialized can charge patent licensing fees. Sanqing's location Clinical trials of gene-poor drugs are basic research and there is no profit, only the drugs after they are marketed."
"Moreover, although the Patent Office has granted you patent rights, you are still in patent litigation. If we pay patent fees to you, if you lose the lawsuit and lose the patent rights, we will face huge losses."
"Finally, you have no patent rights in China and other regions, and we will not pay a dime from our commercial income in these regions."
"These demands are very unreasonable and completely unacceptable to us..." As soon as the other party's lawyer got to the point, he immediately became energetic and began to talk eloquently.
After a heated debate, the Broad Institute insisted on paying a proportion of the patent licensing fee.
For every thalassaemia gene drug sold, a patent fee must be paid.
The payment ratio is 30%.
boom!
Yang Haoran stood up and said: "You are really greedy. There is no such high proportion of patent fees in the world. Are you trying to drain all our profits?"
The other party's lawyer said with a straight face: "Do I need to remind you? The pharmaceutical industry has always been known for its huge profits. It is completely different from the meager profits of other industries. The profit margin of pharmaceutical companies is generally 90%. If we charge 30%, it is already merciless. .”
"Furthermore, medical expenses in Eagle Country are famous for being expensive. There is no price limit or centralized procurement. So the ratio is very reasonable."
"But the price of Sanqing's genetic drugs has always been relatively low."
The other party's lawyer said coldly: "That's your problem. Sanqing can be sold at a high price. I believe patients have no other choice and will still use your drugs."
"Besides, if the unit price is increased, although the sales volume will be reduced, the cost will be greatly increased and the profits will be higher. This will be better for pharmaceutical companies, isn't it? This is also in our interests."
"..." Yang Haoran was speechless this time.
He knew in his heart that the other party was right. Raising drug prices and maximizing profits was the way for most companies to survive. Although it was inconsistent with Sanqing's corporate philosophy, it was an unspoken rule in the pharmaceutical industry.
Genetic drugs, in particular, are already very costly, and they are the only ones on the market. There are no competing products, and there is no need to worry about running out of patients, so there is no need to lower the price.
Even if it is sold at a sky-high price, there are still people paying for it. Just like the previous SMA gene drug, the unit price was as high as 2 million U.S. dollars, and it made a profit of more than 1 billion in just two years after it was launched.
Sanqing can sell thalassemia gene drugs for more than one million US dollars. In this way, even if it pays high patent fees, its own profits will still be very considerable.
Yang Haoran sighed in his heart, alas, it's a pity that Sanqing is not a Yingguo pharmaceutical company, but a Chinese company, so naturally it can't do this.
He cheered up and started bargaining with the other party.
The two sides argued with each other until the evening, before lowering the ratio to 25%.
At this point, the other party is unwilling to continue the conversation no matter what.
In the end, the two parties reached the first round of out-of-court settlement.
Although the talks were difficult, preliminary results were achieved.
For all thalassemia gene drugs on the market, Sanqing will pay a supplementary patent licensing fee of 25% of the profits.
Everyone walked out of the conference room with tired faces, but there was no trace of the relaxation and joy after success in their hearts.
Everyone has a feeling that the storm is coming.
They knew in their hearts that this peace talk was just the beginning, and the resolution of the whole matter would definitely not be so easy.
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