136: Chapter 136 Vanity Projects

Chen Hao furrowed his brows, his expression one of helplessness.

"The resistance isn't in the USA, but domestically.

Grandfather, you used to oversee the cultural sector; you know better than I do what the situation with domestic digital copyright is like."

Elder Sun didn't respond, waiting for Chen Hao to continue.

Chen Hao continued to analyze the situation.

"Domestically, no one acknowledges digital copyright at all.

The audio-visual stores on every street corner sell nothing but pirated cassettes and discs.

It's even more chaotic on the internet; all kinds of music and movies can be downloaded at will. No one manages it, and no one thinks there's anything wrong with it."

Elder Sun sighed.

"The country has a thin foundation.

The common people have only just solved the problem of food and clothing; where would they have spare money to buy authentic products?

Law enforcement departments don't have enough manpower, so they can't manage it all.

This is an inevitable phenomenon of the development stage."

Chen Hao nodded in agreement.

"You're right.

But this status quo has brought about a very troublesome consequence.

Foreign countries treat Longguo as a disaster area for piracy.

Every year at international conferences, those developed countries use this to make an issue out of it, smearing our country's reputation.

I'm in charge of this work at the foundation, and my position is very awkward."

A gust of autumn wind blew by.

A few tiny yellow flowers fell from the osmanthus tree overhead, landing on Chen Hao's shoulder.

He reached out to brush off the petals.

"In the days since I returned to the country, I've also surveyed a few record companies.

I discovered that these copyright holders have given up on themselves.

They've been beaten down by pirates to the point where they can't lift their heads, and they don't expect digital copyright to make any money at all."

Elder Sun understood Chen Hao's dilemma.

"This matter involves too wide a scope.

It's not something that a young punk like you, or some foundation, can solve.

You have to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time.

Regarding the uncertainty you mentioned earlier, what exactly are your thoughts?"

Chen Hao threw out his plan.

"I want to start with a vanity project.

At least it will give the United Nations an explanation."

Elder Sun's gaze was like a torch.

"A vanity project?

These four words are not exactly a compliment in officialdom.

What exactly do you want to do?"

Chen Hao began to explain, following the reasoning he had already thought out before coming.

"When doing things, the breakthrough from zero to one is the most important.

Having something and having nothing are worlds apart.

Currently, digital copyright protection in Longguo is at zero.

No one acknowledges it, no one pays, and copyright holders haven't even thought about selling it."

Chen Hao paused to let Elder Sun digest this information.

"I want to break this state of zero.

To facilitate the first batch of digital copyright transactions domestically.

Even if it only sells for one yuan or one cent, it's still a breakthrough from zero."

Elder Sun's gaze was sharp, hitting the nail on the head.

"How to facilitate it? Who will pay for it?"

Chen Hao gave the answer he had long prepared.

"I will use the Asia-Pacific Digital Copyright Protection Special Fund to take the lead.

Together with the relevant authorities within the United Nations, plus a few mainstream audio-visual copyright holders, we will jointly launch a Longguo Digital Copyright Protection Campaign.

Under the framework of this campaign, we will facilitate a batch of digital copyright transactions."

Chen Hao pointed to himself.

"To ensure this project is implemented, I will pay for it.

I will use my own company's money to purchase this batch of digital copyrights."

Elder Sun didn't express his stance immediately.

He was quickly calculating the political ledger of this plan in his mind.

Government departments don't need to allocate a single cent, nor do they need to bear any risk of trial and error.

Just by lending their name and issuing an initiative, they can achieve a "breakthrough from zero" in the field of digital copyright protection.

This is not only a political achievement domestically, but also a powerful weapon that can be brought out at international conferences to refute Western accusations.

Copyright holders don't need to pay extra costs and can receive a tangible copyright fee, even if it might not be much.

Chen Hao spends his own money to buy a reputation, fulfills his duty to the United Nations foundation, and consolidates his position within international organizations.

This is an excellent chess game where multiple parties win.

No party's interests are harmed.

Extremely brilliant.

Elder Sun looked at Chen Hao, and the more he looked, the more satisfied he was.

This grandson-in-law not only understands technology and business, but his grasp of political logic is also precise to the extreme.

"This line of thinking is on the right track."

Elder Sun gave his judgment.

"Standing at the national level, this kind of breakthrough from zero has strategic value.

It can shut the mouths of those foreign media outlets. The relevant departments will be happy to see it happen."

Elder Sun's tone shifted.

"However, regarding you paying out of your own pocket to do this vanity project, how will you control the costs?

Your little family fortune can't fill the hole in the domestic copyright market."

Chen Hao climbed up the pole as it was offered.

"Grandfather has hit the nail on the head.

Therefore, I need to coordinate with those copyright enterprises to give a symbolic price.

Anyway, the digital copyrights in their hands are currently worthless and can't be sold.

I'm spending money to help them open for business and help them promote it; they should at least give me a friendly price."

Elder Sun pointed at Chen Hao and scolded him with a smile.

"You rascal, your abacus is calculating quite well.

You want to earn a reputation without bleeding too much money."

Chen Hao responded calmly.

"In business, one must control costs.

As long as the transaction is reached, one yuan and one million yuan have the same significance in news reports."

Elder Sun restrained his smile.

"For this matter to be accomplished, just finding the Copyright Bureau or the Ministry of Culture is not enough.

You need to build up momentum and gather all the various forces together; you need a powerful leading unit."

Elder Sun pondered the current institutional setup in the country.

"General Administration of Press and Publication, Audio-Visual and Electronic Publishing Management Department.

This department manages the publication and distribution of all audio-visual products in the country.

It is only right and proper for them to come forward, and those record companies and film and television production centers will have to comply."

This was the sentence Chen Hao was waiting for.

"Audio-Visual and Electronic Publishing Management Department?"

Chen Hao pretended not to understand.

Elder Sun nodded.

"It just so happens that your Third Uncle-in-law, Qian Guoping, is a deputy director in this department.

This matter falls under his jurisdiction."

Elder Sun's third daughter married the eldest son of the Qian family.

The Qian family's main resources are in the propaganda sector.

"For him, this project is also a tangible political achievement.

They are on holiday these few days and have gone traveling out of town. They will return on the 6th.

I will give Qian Guoping a heads-up in advance and give him the lowdown on your ideas.

After the holiday, when work resumes, you go directly to his office to find him.

You two can discuss the specific details yourselves."

Chen Hao immediately said with a smile.

"Thank you for your support, Grandfather.

With Third Uncle-in-law coming forward to coordinate, this matter is more than half done."

Elder Sun waved his hand.

"We are all family; being thankful is just being polite."

You handled this matter methodically, both considering the big picture and accomplishing practical work.

Qian Guoping helping you is also equivalent to helping himself."

The two sat in the garden for a while longer.

The autumn sunlight felt warm on their bodies.

Chen Hao checked his watch.

Two in the afternoon.

"Grandfather, I have a meeting at the company this afternoon, so I must head back."

Elder Sun stood up.

"Go and get busy. Young people should do more work.

Remember to go see Qian Guoping after the holiday; I'll send you his phone number in a moment."

Chen Hao agreed with a smile.

He escorted Elder Sun back to the grey-white small building.

Zhang Hui was cleaning the living room.

Chen Hao greeted Zhang Hui, picked up his coat from behind the door, and walked out of the courtyard.

Xiao Wu drove the audi a6 over.

Chen Hao opened the car door and sat in the back seat.

"Back to the company."