CH75 - Atari's Turn - II

Nolan Bushnell raised his arm, embracing Ethan's shoulder, and said, "Brother, to be honest, we have a way to solve your difficulties, but we've been hesitant to bring it up because the method is quite harsh on you..."

"What? You have a solution?" Ethan Jones, at this moment, was like a drowning youth, trying to grasp a sudden lifeline.

Upon hearing Nolan Bushnell's words, joy flashed on his face, and he exclaimed, "Harsh? Is there anything more cruel in this world than being burdened with lawsuits and unable to pay?"

"Now, as long as it keeps me away from the quagmire, it's a rescue for me!"

"Are you sure?" Nolan Bushnell asked with a flickering gaze.

"Sure!" Ethan Jones nodded vigorously.

As he gave an affirmative answer, Nolan Bushnell turned his gaze to Don Valentine.

Receiving the signal from his companion, Don Valentine immediately said, "Ethan, when we calculated the claim amount, we found that you couldn't afford this astronomical figure. To resolve this, to get rid of Magnavox's entanglement, we thought from your perspective, considered ways to solve the matter, and then we found... your game, 'Snake Game.'"

"Although 'Snake Game' infringes, it's still a good game. In the past few days, we asked around in the market for its value and received some pretty positive feedback. For instance, if you're willing to sell, Disney is willing to pay four million for it."

"So, you just need to come up with half a million."

"If I'm not mistaken, the first round of dividends from 'Snake Game' was four hundred thousand?"

"This amount shouldn't be a problem for you."

Wow!

Ethan just wanted to exclaim, wow!

In his previous thoughts, he expected that Don Valentine and the others might at most deceive him out of his second-round dividends.

But he never imagined that these people not only wanted to freeload on his game, take away his dividends, but also reclaim the profits from months ago, and on top of that, charge interest at market rates?

What's a capitalist!

This, damn it, is what a capitalist is!

I not only want to skin you, drink your blood, eat your flesh, but also damn well make you shoulder debt!

No wonder Evelyn said he was too kind! Their methods are still the most primitive form of fair distribution!

Because compared to these guys, Ethan is truly straightforward!

After scrutinizing Don Valentine for a while, when Ethan realized that this future venture capitalist was not joking, he dropped the pretence and smiled with a "Goose, goose, goose."

However, this move puzzled Don Valentine and Nolan Bushnell.

Still holding Ethan Nolan Bushnell asked, "Brother, what's going on with you?"

"Oh, Nolan, you're asking what's going on with me? Can't you see I'm happy?"

Ethan Jones tilted his head slightly and beamed a bright smile at Nolan Bushnell.

"We've known each other for five months, right? You finally decided to speak the truth. It's really not easy!"

"From the beginning, you guys targeted my game copyright, right?"

"For this, you played marketing games with me for months."

"Wow! It must have been really difficult for you!"

The sudden sarcasm made Nolan Bushnell and Don Valentine's faces tense.

Both of them involuntarily twitched at the corners of their eyes.

"Brother, I don't understand what you mean."

Nolan Bushnell quietly withdrew his arm, and opened his arms, trying to show his innocence as much as possible.

But Ethan who had already received the offer from the buyer Disney, didn't need to play the boring game of pretending to be good with them anymore. With a mocking look, he glanced at the two, "Stop pretending. Do you really think I'm an idiot?"

"You have the issue with the 'TV Game and Training Device' patent authorization; I already know."

"I also know that you used it as leverage before April this year to start selling the company."

"You knew 'Snake Game' was infringing!"

"But you didn't inform me, let alone avoid it!"

"Because you wanted to use this as an opportunity to plot my copyright!"

'!!!'

When these words appeared, Nolan Bushnell suddenly looked astonished.

"Brother! What nonsense are you talking about!" he shouted in disbelief, "If we have the patent authorization, how could Magnavox sue us? Are you insane or are they insane?"

"I'm not crazy, and neither are they. That's why both sides received different lawsuits." Ethan Jones looked at Nolan Bushnell with a smile, "Do you know where I just came from?"

"I came from San Francisco, California Street, 555, Room 2000."

"You should be familiar with this address, right?"

"If you can't recall, I can help you remember."

Saying this, Ethan Jones took out a business card from his pocket and gently placed it on the coffee table.

When the lawyer's business card with the name Sidley Austin appeared, Nolan Bushnell's mouth twitched involuntarily.

But Ethan seemed to have not noticed and continued, "I just went to Sidley Austin, had a talk with Magnavox's lawyers. I told them to tell Magnavox that separating the lawsuits was fine."

"Although they didn't understand my meaning, they still did it. After a call, they told me that their client Magnavox was very happy and liked this result very much."

Exactly!

Ethan chose to communicate with Magnavox first for this reason!

Because he needed to verify whether the information brought by Steve Jobs was true! If Atari indeed had the 'TV Game and Training Device' patent authorization, then, under Ethan Jones's hint, Magnavox would definitely give positive feedback! Conversely!

As for not giving feedback?

That was impossible!

Because at that time, Ethan used this as leverage to negotiate with Magnavox about removing the ban!

After confirming from Magnavox that Atari indeed had the patent authorization...

All the previous speculations became facts.

Infuriating facts!

"Oh! Sxxt!!!"

Looking at the business card, Nolan Bushnell could no longer hold onto his hypocritical mask.

"Dxxn! Where did you get this information???"

"We haven't told anyone about this information! Who the hell leaked it???"

Nolan Bushnell was about to go crazy!

Because he was sure he hadn't mentioned this matter to any Atari employee!

The entire Atari knew about this only between him and Don Valentine!

And externally...

Only Magnavox, which gave the authorization, and their target buyer MCA, and Disney!

The former Magnavox couldn't possibly publicize this because the last thing they wanted to reveal was this thing! The latter, Nolan Bushnell didn't believe Ethan could get information from these giants!

And as he kept jumping and thinking frantically, the gloomy-faced Don Valentine suddenly spoke, "Is it Everlyn Johnson?"

'?'

This name attracted all of Nolan Bushnell's attention.

"Don! What do you mean?"

"His sister, Evelyn Johnson."

Don Valentine didn't beat around the bush, staring directly at Ethan saying, "His sister Evelyn Johnson has a good relationship with Vint who is a senior researcher at Stanford Engineering School."

When the name Stanford Engineering School appeared, Nolan Bushnell immediately frowned!

Because he understood what Don Valentine meant!

The information about them having the 'TV Game and Training Device' might have leaked from Disney!

And Disney leaked this information?

"Oh, Sh*t!" Nolan Bushnell hammered the sofa next to him with force, "Really, in industries, you can't keep any information!"

Ethan was somewhat sentimental because only now did he realize he had another source to obtain information.

Just as Don Valentine said, Vint is a senior researcher at Stanford Engineering School, and Stanford Engineering School, well, it has a long-standing close relationship with the Disney group.

For example, the Disney land in Anaheim, California, was designed and built under the guidance of Stanford Engineering School.

Later, the establishment of Disneyland in Orlando, Florida, was also guided by Stanford Engineering School.

This relationship was established during Walt Disney's time and, from various perspectives, was more reliable than Steve Jobs's channel.

But that doesn't matter now, right?

The result is correct, and that's enough.

And now—

'I have the advantage!'

Looking at the two with dark faces, Ethan smiled, "Admit it, right?"

"You've worn the mask for so long, isn't it tiring?"