6: Legal War

He hung up on Ham Eun-jung.

Qian Xu stood at the entrance of the court, looking at the freeze order in his hand.

"Lawyer Park, what's next?"

"Complete the transfer of trademark rights within three days."

Lawyer Park adjusted his glasses.

"But Kim Seong-ho will definitely fight back."

"He is already in the process of transferring the trademark."

"What we need to do now is to get ahead of him."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Let's go, back to the law firm."

Kim & Chang Law Firm.

The 28th-floor conference room.

Lawyer Park's team was already in place.

Five lawyers and three assistants.

The table was piled high with documents.

"Mr. Qian, this is our battle plan."

Lawyer Park turned on the projector.

"Step one, the court's freeze order has taken effect."

"Kim Seong-ho cannot transfer the trademark now."

"Step two, we apply for the compulsory transfer of trademark rights."

"Step three, if Kim Seong-ho resists, we will apply for court enforcement."

"Within three days, the trademark rights must be under your name."

Qian Xu looked at the projection.

"What will Kim Seong-ho do?"

"He will file an objection in court."

Lawyer Park sneered.

"Claiming that he is the actual owner of the trademark rights."

"But what about evidence?"

"He won't be able to produce any."

Just as he finished speaking.

Lawyer Park's phone rang.

He answered it, and his expression changed.

"What?"

"Okay, I understand."

After hanging up, he looked at Qian Xu.

"Kim Seong-ho has made a move."

"He just submitted an objection application to the court."

"Claiming that the trademark rights are his personal property, not company assets."

Qian Xu frowned.

"Can we win?"

"Yes."

Lawyer Park opened his laptop.

"We were prepared for this."

"I retrieved the company's financial records from the past three years."

"All maintenance costs for the trademark rights were paid by the company."

"Including trademark registration fees, renewal fees, and legal fees."

"These all came out of the company account."

"Kim Seong-ho says the trademark is his personal property?"

"Then why did he have the company pay for it?"

Qian Xu smiled.

"Good, then let's fight."

The next morning.

Seoul Central District Court.

Trademark rights objection hearing.

The judge was a man in his fifties.

Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with a serious expression.

"Applicant Kim Seong-ho, please state the grounds for your objection."

Kim Seong-ho stood up.

He was wearing a cheap suit, his eyes gloomy.

"Your Honor, the T-ARA trademark was registered by me personally."

"The company was just holding it on my behalf."

"Therefore, the trademark rights do not belong to the company's bankruptcy assets."

The judge looked at Lawyer Park.

"Respondent, please provide your rebuttal."

Lawyer Park stood up.

"Your Honor, these are the company's financial records from the past three years."

"All maintenance costs for the trademark rights were paid by the company."

"Totaling 230 million KRW."

"If the trademark rights belong to Kim Seong-ho personally."

"Why did the company have to pay for him?"

Kim Seong-ho's expression changed.

"That... that was money the company owed me!"

"I used the trademark rights to offset the debt!"

Lawyer Park sneered.

"Offset the debt?"

"Is there a contract?"

"Are there any transfer records?"

"Are there any witnesses?"

Kim Seong-ho was speechless.

The judge tapped the table.

"Applicant, please provide evidence."

Kim Seong-ho lowered his head.

"I... I don't have any."

"Very well."

The judge looked at Lawyer Park.

"Respondent, the court's freeze order has taken effect."

"You may initiate the compulsory transfer procedure for the trademark rights."

"Complete it within three days."

Lawyer Park bowed.

"Thank you, Your Honor."

Walking out of the court.

Kim Seong-ho rushed over.

"You're a Chinese person, what right do you have to snatch our trademark!"

Qian Xu looked at him.

"Representative Kim, when you owed the employees their wages."

"Did you think about them being Korean?"

"When you wanted to transfer the trademark."

"Did you think about T-ARA's fans?"

Kim Seong-ho's face flushed red.

"What do you know!"

"This is a Korean cultural asset!"

"It cannot fall into the hands of a foreigner!"

Qian Xu smiled.

"A Korean cultural asset?"

"Half of T-ARA's songs were bought by Chinese fans."

"Half of their albums were made in Chinese factories."

"Half of their concerts were watched by Chinese audiences."

"And you say this is a Korean cultural asset?"

Kim Seong-ho was speechless.

Qian Xu turned around.

"Lawyer Park, let's go."

2:00 PM.

Kim & Chang Law Firm.

Lawyer Park's team was working overtime.

"Mr. Qian, the compulsory transfer procedure for the trademark rights has been initiated."

"It is expected to be completed by tomorrow afternoon."

"Kim Seong-ho has one last chance to appeal."

"But he has no evidence, so an appeal is useless."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Good, thank you for your hard work."

He sat in the conference room, looking out the window.

The sky over Seoul was very blue.

Sunlight shone in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

His phone rang.

It was a message from Ham Eun-jung.

"Mr. Qian, how did it go?"

Qian Xu replied:

"The trademark rights, I'll have them by tomorrow."

"Three days from now, we will sign the contract."

Ham Eun-jung replied instantly:

"That's great!"

"I'll notify the other members."

Qian Xu smiled.

"Okay."

The next afternoon.

Seoul Central District Court.

Trademark rights compulsory transfer hearing.

The judge was the same judge.

Kim Seong-ho sat in the corner.

His face was pale.

"Applicant Kim Seong-ho, you have one last chance to appeal."

Kim Seong-ho stood up.

His lips were trembling.

"I... I waive my right to appeal."

The judge nodded.

"Very well, the court rules."

"The T-ARA trademark rights, effective immediately."

"Are compulsorily transferred to Yunmengze Entertainment."

"All procedures must be completed within three days."

"Court dismissed."

The judge tapped the table.

Kim Seong-ho slumped in his chair.

Qian Xu stood up.

He walked up to Kim Seong-ho.

"Representative Kim, thank you."

Kim Seong-ho looked up.

"Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for protecting the T-ARA trademark rights so well."

"Over these past ten-plus years, you didn't let it depreciate."

"Now, I will make it appreciate."

Kim Seong-ho was stunned.

Qian Xu turned around.

Walking out of the court.

Lawyer Park caught up.

"Mr. Qian, the trademark transfer procedures."

"They will all be completed by tomorrow."

"Yunmengze Entertainment officially owns the T-ARA trademark rights."

Qian Xu nodded.

"Good, notify Eunjung."

"The day after tomorrow at 3:00 PM."

"Cheongdam-dong cafe."

"Signing."

Lawyer Park smiled.

"Okay."

Qian Xu stood at the entrance of the court.

Looking at the sky over Seoul.

The sun was shining brightly.

He took out his phone.

Opened his banking app.

Balance: 13.74 billion KRW.

Plus the 11.37 billion that arrived today.

A total of 25.11 billion KRW.

It's enough.

After paying off the 18 billion KRW debt in three days.

There will be 7.11 billion left.

Enough startup capital for T-ARA's comeback.

He smiled.

"30 million Chinese fans."

"Your idols are coming back."