29 Episode 28 Contracts and Negotiations

"Fifty percent ...... or ......?

I thought I heard wrong, so I asked again. I don't think it's 50 percent. It's not like a pharmaceutical company that invests a huge amount of money in development.

If you're not going to provide all of the equipment, it's going to be tough for you to get 90% of the artifacts. ......

Ninety percent?　What's the deal with patents in this world?

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.　I'm a little rusty on this stuff.

I've never signed a patent contract before, and I'll have to get someone from the commercial guild to help me determine the details of the contract, but I'd say 70 to 50 percent of the profit is about right for a patent. ......

Is that how it is? ......

Does this mean that the technology is protected?　I'm not sure if this is too much for the level of culture in this world.

Well, I guess there are geniuses and the like in every world. Perhaps this level of civilization is also due to the excessive convenience of magic tools.

But, wait a minute, if we get 50% of the monopoly, won't this technology be used only by the mining society here?

For example, if we cut the percentage in half, if the technology spreads twice as much, it's a win-win situation. Isn't that a possible direction?

That may not satisfy the people in the mining association, but if that's the case, why not give the rights to others? It's like an agency.

I have an idea, but I'm not sure if it's procedural, so can we talk about it when the commercial guild is around?　If we can do that, the patent fee will be much lower, and you'll have a better chance of making a profit.

"Oh, there is such a way?　I don't mind as long as it's profitable, and if it's flawed, I might have to decline, but I don't mind the proposal itself.

"Then please do that. Is it okay if we start now?

I'll go get the president of the mining association, so please wait for me.

I'll go get the president of the Coal Mining Association.

Mr. Iggy was still doing something around the coke oven.

After a while, a healthy-looking old man and the man from before came.

I heard that the price is lower than 50%, but are you sure?　To be honest, I thought even fifty percent was pretty cheap.

Yes, but it's a bit of a special system, so can I explain it in detail when the people from the commercial guild are here?　I think it would be boring to have to hear the same thing twice.

"Fine, I'll go with the people from the commercial guild, can we do it now?

I don't mind, but is it okay with the Commercial Guild?

I don't think it's a good idea to suddenly bring in a new contract without an appointment. ......

In the event that you have any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with us, please do not hesitate to contact us. It's one of the biggest cases in the city, except for special materials.

"Are special materials a big deal like that?

The expensive materials are very expensive, like when some of the Sublime Dragon materials were brought in about ten years ago. In the event that you've got a lot of money, you'll be able to take advantage of the fact that you'll be able to get a lot more out of it.

Sorry, that's not a hoax. I brought it in with an item box.

I don't think it will disrupt the market because I don't have a lot of money at the moment, maybe.

Well, that's no problem, let's get going.

Let's do it. I'm looking forward to your patent ideas for your invention of coke.

I'm sorry, I didn't invent coke, it was a great man in the past.

I keep apologizing in my mind. I didn't do anything wrong.

I'm going with the coal dealer to follow the mine president.

A little while later, I joined the Commercial Guild. Unlike the Adventurer's Guild, it was a clean, white building.

We entered the building, but instead of a counter like the Adventurer's Guild, it looked like a university lab building with a small reception desk.

There was a woman sitting at the reception desk, just like the Adventurer's Guild in Ein.

However, she is not a friendly-looking receptionist like in the Adventurer's Guild, but a person with a harsh-looking face. She looks like a secretary with glasses in modern Japan. .

"I'm here to discuss a patent contract, please act as an intermediary.

What kind of patent contract are you talking about?

A patent on a fuel for refining that burns hotter than charcoal and cheaper than charcoal.

What's ......?　Did the ...... Coal Mining Association develop such a thing?

No, it was developed by a boy there, but I'm pretty sure it works or I wouldn't be here.

You call me a boy. They say Japanese people look like children.

But I've seen people who look Japanese here too: .......

In the event that you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The receptionist was a little distraught, but quickly recovered and began to perform her duties as faithfully as she looked.

The intermediary was a young man, also a human being. I feel like I'm only talking to humans even though this is a city of dwarves.

I wonder if it's not just the intermediary, but also the negotiation that is the main work, that is left to the tribesmen.

"My name is Kaichi, and I'll be your intermediary.

Oh, by the way, it's going to be a special contract, will this person be okay with it? ......

I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out.

I'm not sure what to do.

You know me, I'm Geinta, please take care of me.

Mr. Kaede takes me into one of the lab-like rooms.

When he finally entered the room, he operated some kind of magical device while encouraging us to sit down. Finally, he took a seat and opened his mouth.

"Since you're here today to mediate a patent contract, do you need an explanation of the patent system?

I don't know much about the patent system in this world. I don't know much about the patent system in this world, and I don't know much about it in the original world either.

You might as well ask.

If you guys don't mind, I'd like an explanation.

Sumiya-san and Gainta-san nodded. They don't seem to think I'm insane.

"Well, let me explain, a patent is a system whereby the party using the patent pays a set amount of money, rarely goods, to the patent holder to protect the developer of a new technology or product, the discoverer of an artifact, etc., for a percentage of the profit or sales, depending on the case. The system is designed to protect the developer of a new technology or product and the discoverer of an artifact. If you try to avoid paying the patent fee by dishonest means, you will be severely punished. Generally, the amount of money is 90% of the profit for small magic stone artifacts and 80% to 50% for new technologies. This amount is negotiable, but the market price tends to depend on how much value the technology adds and how much profit is generated by doing business without it.

Hmmm ......

Negotiation, this is going to be a hindrance if we want to spread it widely.

I understand, but is it possible to make a patent agreement without negotiation?

"No, I don't think it's possible, but I don't think there's any way to make a contract without a price.

"Oh, I may have worded it wrong, but for example, we would declare in advance, 'If you use this technology, you will get 50% of the profit from it, and you can use it as you like within that range.

"Um, ......, that's a bit beyond me, I'll go get the branch manager.

Mr. Kaichi left in a hurry, and shortly after, a small, fat man who looked like a merchant entered.

Hello, my name is Naiaki, the head of the Merchant's Guild Herrera branch, I heard that you want a special patent contract, please explain in detail.

Yes, I would like to receive about 30% of the profits, 10% to the Mining Association, and 10% to the coal merchant, how about that?

How about that?" "The people who use the patents get paid?　What's the difference between that and lowering the patent fee?

No, the important thing is to get the Coal Miners' Association and the Coal Miners' Association to promote this technology, and I'll get a portion of the profits from it, and the rest will be divided between the Coal Miners' Association and the Coal Miners' Association. In this way, as the number of users of this technology increases, I, the miners, and the Coal Mining Association will all benefit, and the technology will develop. The technology can only be developed by spreading it.

I have a feeling that the technology will develop more if I suggest blast furnaces and other things, but it would be better to wait until coke spreads before spending that much time on it.

On Earth, it seems to have spread together with coke, but here, it seems that coke can be used to make iron without it.

Mr. Naiaki was silent and thoughtful, but suddenly looked up.

That's a good system!　But that could lead to too much price competition, and it is only through monopolies and oligopolies that technology can maintain high profit margins.

That's true. ...... Then how about setting a fixed price per kilogram and charging a patent fee per kilogram? That way, the competition would be based on quality, not price. No matter who wins, we won't lose anything, and we will be more than grateful for the competition because it will drive out the poor quality products.

I'm sure you'll have no problem with that, Miyas, but you've been listening quietly for a while now.

I'm fine with that. There's a limit to what we can do on our scale.

I don't mind either, there are only so many mines that aren't being mined and there are plenty of bigger ones than this one, so it's useless to try to monopolize them all.

Both of them agreed, so I started to wrap up the conversation.

We'll set a fixed price based on the cost, and then we'll sign the contract, if you don't mind.

"Oh, I'd appreciate it if you could wait three days or so.

Mr. Naiaki says apologetically.

It's not a matter for a single branch manager to make a decision on, so he or she must contact the guild master. It may take that long to get permission from the guild master after exchanging information in a hurry. ...... Technology that may increase the production of metal. So there's a lot of other things you have to go through. ......

Sounds like a bureaucracy. In fact, it's like bureaucracy.

You can even say that it's light-footed for a bureaucracy because it doesn't take months or years.

We left the guild and disbanded for the day.

I went back to the inn and went to sleep, but when I checked my status before going to bed, I found that my MP limit had increased by 1.

I wonder if it's possible to grow even if your level doesn't increase.