573: Chapter 573 The New Secretary Plots to Infringe on Rights

Chu Qianlan's gaze paused slightly. He had heard earlier that Secretary Lin was leaving, but he had not expected it to happen so quickly. "Have you checked the background information on the new Secretary? Does he have a clear focus for his work?"

Su Yezi handed over the organized documents: "The new Secretary is named Secretary Lin Wentao. He previously worked at the Central State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. At the first work meeting yesterday, he spoke at length about how state-owned enterprises should take the lead in social development. Given his work experience and administrative philosophy, I am afraid he is not very friendly toward private enterprises."

Chu Qianlan quickly flipped through Secretary Lin Wentao's background information, his fingertips pausing on the note about 'focusing on state-owned enterprise dominance and emphasizing policy guidance': "Coming from the Central State-owned Assets background, it is no wonder he favors state-owned enterprises."

He tossed the file onto the table, his tone calm: "Our development relies on technology; policy leaning is just the icing on the cake. As long as it does not affect our development, what he does has nothing to do with us."

Su Yezi continued to add: "On his first day in office, Secretary Lin investigated two municipal state-owned enterprises and mentioned at the meeting that 'it is necessary to regulate the development of private enterprises and avoid disorderly expansion.' In addition, when he investigated Shenzhen Venture Capital, he emphasized investing in enterprises with potential and vitality, and Deep Blue Semiconductor was among those mentioned."

Chu Qianlan tapped his fingertips on the table, his eyes calm: "Regulate development? Disorderly expansion? I wonder if this new Secretary Lin is inexperienced or if he is trying to use this opportunity to discipline private enterprises?"

He sneered: "Do not worry about this for now. If any policies targeting us appear, it will not be too late to consider how to respond."

"Understood! I will pay attention to the policies issued by the Municipal Government in the future." Su Yezi acknowledged and left.

...

On the other side of the ocean, in a high-end conference room in the US Silicon Valley, the atmosphere was oppressively tense.

The ASML CEO, the Qualcomm Technical Director, the TSMC North America President, and other representatives of semiconductor industry giants sat around a round table. On the screen in front of them, the original announcement and technical popular science posts from Deep Blue Semiconductor were scrolling. Every piece of information hit everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

The ASML CEO tapped the table heavily with his fingertips, his tone filled with incredulous anxiety: "13-15 nanometer EUV Light Source, completing 28-nanometer wafer production in a single exposure, and it can even be compatible with the 20-nanometer process through multiple exposures. This is almost equivalent to our 20-nanometer Lithography Machine! EUV Light Source technology is still in the research and development stage for us; it is impossible to apply it to practice. Deep Blue Semiconductor has already achieved a counter-overtake in many aspects, rendering our advantages in the Dragon Country market non-existent."

The Qualcomm Technical Director pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his expression serious: "What is even more fatal is that Deep Blue Semiconductor's equipment can directly mass-produce 20-nanometer Chip, which indicates that Xingyuan Exploration may have already mastered the design of 20-nanometer Chip. We probably no longer have an advantage in semiconductor technology!"

The TSMC North America President frowned deeply: "Once local wafer fabs in the Dragon Country fully switch to Deep Blue Semiconductor's equipment, capacity expansion is only a matter of time. Our order share in the Dragon Country has already been squeezed by 30%. If this continues, we are afraid we will completely lose this largest market."

The conference room fell into dead silence. Everyone knew that Deep Blue Semiconductor's technological breakthrough had broken the existing pattern of the global semiconductor industry. The advantages previously formed by technical barriers and capacity monopolies were being rapidly disintegrated.

"We cannot just sit and wait for death!" The ASML CEO stood up abruptly, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes: "We must unite, start from multiple aspects, and jointly suppress the development of Deep Blue Semiconductor and its affiliated enterprises. I suggest that Lithography Machine manufacturers lower prices by 30% with us to temporarily stabilize existing customers using cost advantages; let's integrate patents and initiate lawsuits against Deep Blue Semiconductor, even if it is just to drag them down and slow their mass production progress!"

The Qualcomm Technical Director immediately echoed: "I agree! Our company can unite with some semiconductor enterprises to sort out patents in Chip design and launch a technical countermeasure against Xingyuan Exploration. While slowing down the other party's R&D progress, we will ensure they do not have the energy to support Deep Blue Semiconductor."

The TSMC North America President added: "We can also unite with wafer fabs in Europe, Japan, and South Korea to jointly boycott Deep Blue Semiconductor's Lithography Machine and maintain the existing supply chain system. As long as their Lithography Machine cannot be sold, it does not matter how advanced the technology is."

A joint strangulation plan targeting Deep Blue Semiconductor was rapidly formed in the conference room. The giants had their own ulterior motives, but they temporarily formed an alliance due to common interests, swearing to strangle this suddenly rising Dragon Country enterprise in the cradle.

...

Three days later, Wang Shijie came to the Starry Sky Technology office: "CEO Chu, the Municipal Party Committee office has sent a letter. Secretary Lin plans to investigate Deep Blue Semiconductor next Tuesday, focusing on understanding the R&D and mass production of Lithography Machine. He also specifically mentioned that he wants to communicate with you in person."

Chu Qianlan chuckled upon hearing this: "Secretary Lin wants to investigate Deep Blue Semiconductor? He is coming quickly. After all, it is the first investigation since taking office, so I should give him some face. I will go when the time comes."

He looked up at Wang Shijie: "Prepare according to standard procedures, focusing on demonstrating technological self-reliance achievements and contributions to the industrial chain. Keep the core process areas confidential. In addition, let the production line operate normally on the day of the investigation; there is no need to deliberately stop work to welcome them."

Wang Shijie responded: "Understood! I will coordinate with the Public Relations Department to prepare the report materials and simultaneously arrange for the confidentiality and operation of the production line."

"Also," Chu Qianlan added, "If Secretary Lin mentions topics such as state-owned enterprise cooperation or policy guidance, you do not need to deliberately cater to him; just respond according to the facts. Our technological route will not be adjusted because of personnel changes in the city, and core patents will never be shared externally."

Wang Shijie wrote down Chu Qianlan's requirements one by one. Just as he turned to leave, Chu Qianlan suddenly called him back.

"Notify the Legal Department to sort out all patents related to the company's Lithography Machine, especially the EUV Light Source. We must form a complete patent barrier report. In addition, pay close attention to the patent dynamics of overseas semiconductor enterprises and prepare for litigation in advance."

Wang Shijie's heart tightened; he instantly understood Chu Qianlan's deep meaning: "Are you worried that overseas enterprises will initiate patent lawsuits?"

"It is not worry; it is inevitable." Chu Qianlan's expression was grave: "We broke their monopoly, so they will definitely use patents as a weapon to fight back. Only by making preparations in advance can we occupy the initiative in the subsequent game."

"Understood! I will coordinate with the Legal Department to push forward the patent sorting and monitoring work." Wang Shijie walked away quickly, a hint of urgency in his steps.

What Chu Qianlan did not expect was that before the patent lawsuits from overseas giants arrived, someone else jumped out first.

Early the next morning, Ma Yuanlong found Chu Qianlan with a grave expression, holding a document: "The company received a letter from a company called Hongchuan Company last night. The other party claims that our mobile phones infringe on 62 of their patents and is demanding compensation for damages."