If everyone is reborn, who will work for capital?

Chapter 69 Registered Trademarks

In the office of executive producer Wang Xiaogang.

Wang Xiaogang, Li Shaobin, and Lin Zixia sat around a small conference table with newspapers spread out in the middle.

After Wang Xiaogang finished reading the newspaper, Lin Zixia added:

"Wang Zhi, I checked. Their event started in early November, a month earlier than our public announcement. The organizers are students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the model is an offline paid social event. Judging from the reports and online feedback, the reputation is quite good. This shows that they are not small-time operators, but rather organized and business-minded."

Wang Xiaogang didn't rush to express his opinion, but turned to Li Shaobin and asked, "Director Li, what's your opinion?"

Li Shaobin pointed at the newspaper, his expression as cautious as ever: "Wang Zhi, this matter isn't a huge deal, but it's not insignificant either. On a smaller scale, it's just a social event organized by a few college students on campus, nowhere near the level of a variety show that our TV station invests heavily in and broadcasts nationwide. But thinking about it more deeply, there are two potential risks."

He paused, organizing his thoughts:

"First, our program hasn't even started airing yet, and there's already a successful event with the same name going around. What will the audience and GG Chamber of Commerce think? Those who don't know the industry might think we're copying or licensing this offline event, causing brand confusion and damaging our originality."

"Secondly, if negative news emerges about this offline event, it will directly damage the reputation of our program."

He thought for a moment and added:

"Oh, there's an even more troublesome possibility—if they register the 'If You Are the One' trademark first, then we'll be in a legal disadvantage and become the infringer."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaogang burst into laughter:

"Old Li, your third concern is completely unnecessary! We haven't even registered the program names and trademarks yet. These are just a few students, their minds are full of recruiting members and organizing events; they wouldn't have the foresight to think about commercial registration."

At that time, television stations still adhered to the idea that "content is king," and their core competitiveness lay in producing and broadcasting programs.

Their legal team primarily focuses on issues such as program format copyright (e.g., whether it plagiarizes foreign formats), artist contracts, and broadcast licenses. The TV station's awareness of protecting the program name as an independent commercial brand across all categories is indeed far less than that of internet companies.

"Hmm... Wang Zhi is right, I was overthinking it." Li Shaobin immediately chimed in.

"But Director Li did remind me," Wang Xiaogang said, stroking his chin. "We've been focusing on planning, production, promotion, and pre-production, but we haven't really gotten around to the trademark issue. Once the show becomes popular, we'll have to catch up on that. Director Li, please make a note of this and get in charge of getting it done later."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I'll arrange it." Li Shaobin quickly agreed.

Putting the trademark issue aside, Wang Xiaogang returned to the main problem:

"Their college student entrepreneurship activity is quite interesting, but it's just a small-scale activity among college students and won't amount to much. But Director Li is right, we can't let them affect our reputation."

"Zixia, you can contact the person in charge and ask them to change the event name."

Lin Zixia pursed her lips, exchanged a glance with Li Shaobin, and then said, "Okay, Wang Zhi, I'll take charge of this."

After leaving Wang Xiaogang's office, Lin Zixia said to Li Shaobin with a hint of difficulty, "Director Li, I feel that Wang Zhi is too optimistic. I'm worried..."

Are you worried that "Jiaotong University Matchmaker" might not agree to the name change?

"Um."

Li Shaobin chuckled and said, "They're college students. What are they most afraid of? Teachers and high pressure. You can just bring out the Ministry of Justice and seize the high ground psychologically and legally, giving them a taste of their own medicine."

"But...we haven't registered a trademark yet, so it doesn't stand up legally, does it?" Lin Zixia asked doubtfully.

"Xiao Lin, you're still too young! I'm about to arrange for someone to handle the trademark registration. Just tell them we've already registered it; they don't understand these things."

"Oh well."

"By the way, what's the name of the person in charge of that 'Jiaotong University matchmaker' again?" Li Shaobin asked curiously.

"I specifically checked, and their CEO and legal representative are both Ma Chunmei," Lin Zixia replied.

……

Just as Lin Zixia was planning to leave for Shanghai, Geng Zhi had already jogged to Jin Zhilong's office in the Jiaotong University Science and Technology Park.

"Hello, Teacher Jin!" Geng Zhi greeted politely while wiping the "sweat" from his forehead.

"Xiao Geng, come, sit down." Jin Zhilong saw that Geng Zhi, who was usually calm and composed, was so impatient this time, so he quickly smiled and waved for him to sit down.

"Professor Jin, is Polaris Capital, which you just mentioned, interested in our 'Jiaotong University Matchmaker'?" Geng Zhi asked hurriedly.

"It's not Polaris Capital, it's Arctic Capital, an international capital firm with a very successful track record in the TMT sector," Jin Zhilong corrected.

"Oh, it's called Arctic Capital." Geng Zhi pretended to be thoughtful.

"Judging from your eagerness, you're thinking of expanding your business quickly, aren't you?" Jin Zhilong said.

"Yes, I didn't expect the 'If You Are the One' event to be so popular. We're now planning to expand, and we need money," Geng Zhi said earnestly. "I've also heard that other schools are imitating us."

"That's right. Your model is very easy to imitate. You need to get moving quickly, scale up, and build a competitive advantage," Jin Zhilong advised seriously.

"Mr. Jin, you're right. So I've overturned my previous immature ideas and now I just want to raise money as soon as possible to expand the scale."

"That's right, entrepreneurship makes people grow and mature faster." After giving his advice, Jin Zhilong encouraged them, "I have high hopes for your project."

"Thank you, Teacher Jin!"

After all the foreplay, Kim Ji-yong finally got to the point:

"Xiao Geng, I've made an introduction for you. Arctic Capital has expressed preliminary interest in 'Jiaotong University Matchmaker,' but they need to learn more about the details. Teacher Jin can only help you with the introduction, but whether they are reliable or whether you can reach an agreement is not something Teacher Jin can help you with. You need to weigh the pros and cons yourself."

"Thank you, Professor Jin!" Geng Zhi asked again, "Professor Jin, could you give me some more guidance on how to negotiate with investors?"

Next, Mr. Jin, speaking from experience, gave Geng Zhi a lecture, explaining things like the importance of highlighting competitive advantages, not revealing too many trade secrets at the beginning, controlling equity ratios and board seats, and veto power.

Jin Zhilong was transferred from an administrative teaching position and is not really an expert in entrepreneurship.

Having been in charge of a science and technology park for so long, I've seen and heard about quite a few projects, so I can still rattle off a lot of professional terms, and they sound pretty convincing.

Finally, Ms. Jin also recommended the park's legal consultation service to Geng Zhi.

"Thank you again for your guidance, Professor Jin! A single conversation with you is worth more than ten years of study!" Geng Zhi said again.

After Geng Zhi left, Teacher Jin Zhilong called Zhang Xuhao again.