Because the work requires frequent contact with R&D personnel, Carrodit understands the style of this type of person who speaks and does things.

The more you talk with your strength, the more you hate flamboyance.

So when he introduced himself, he didn't go around in circles, and directly showed Lu Zhou that he was the CEO of Umicore, and after handing out the business card, he explained his purpose.

"I'll get straight to the point, I wonder if Professor Lu has any plans to sell patents?"

"Nope."

Carodiet, who had just organized the language in her mind, was almost choked by Lu Zhou's words.

Coughing twice to hide his embarrassment, he reorganized his language and tried to persuade, "Aren't you going to ask about the price?" What if our offer satisfies you? ”

"There's no point in talking about this now," Lu Zhou gently put down the knife and fork in his hand and said in a relaxed tone, "How high can you ask?" 10 billion or 20 billion? Lithium battery technology has just started, and no one can say how big the market for anode materials will be. Even if I plan to sell the patent for the modified PDMS film in a package, I will not sell it at this time. ”

Ten billion is obviously impossible, and Lu Zhou is casually making a blind report.

Perhaps the lithium-sulfur battery still lying in the laboratory is worth this price, but it is absolutely impossible to use lithium anode materials alone.

After all, the global annual output value of lithium-ion battery anode materials is only more than 10 billion US dollars, which is still because of the high price of graphite.

Hearing Lu Zhou's words, Carrodite couldn't help but have a headache.

This sky-high attitude is obviously not interested in talking to him about the sale.

However, if you give up like this, it will not be too much like him.

"But have you considered substitutability?" Pretending to smile lightly, Carrodit continued, "We all know that technology is developing very quickly, and maybe in a few years, other materials with more potential will appear, and you are sure that your patents will sell for a higher price?" ”

However, for the future depicted by Carodiet, Lu Zhou just smiled and did not show any concerns.

"I'm willing to take that risk."

Carodiet: "......"

Seeing that the Belgian brother stopped talking, Lu Zhou didn't make a sound and peeled the lobster.

Joke.

How much money has the industry spent on the lithium anode, and don't you have a B number in your heart?

Decades of burning so much money into it have not solved this problem, not necessarily after the funding has been cut, but which institute has solved this problem in a different way?

This possibility is not impossible, but it is negligible.

Seeing that Lu Zhou had no intention of compromising at all, Carodit sighed and said.

"Well, the acquisition aside, at what price are you going to license the patent?"

Hearing this question, Lu Zhou finally showed a satisfied smile.

Finally waited for this sentence.

In fact, as early as two months ago, he was thinking about this issue, and even did a certain investigation on the market of lithium batteries.

The estimated demand for lithium battery anode materials in 16 years is 138,000 tons, and from the current statistical situation, the actual demand this year should be basically consistent with expectations.

Although this data corresponds to graphite materials and cannot be directly converted to lithium anode materials, it still has a certain reference.

After all, with the advantages of lithium anode materials in cost and performance, under the condition that the safety problem has been properly solved, the speed of elimination of graphite anode in the industry may be much faster than he imagined.

For Lu Zhou, the way to maximize benefits is undoubtedly to charge a patent fee according to a certain percentage of the cost per ton of material.

Considering the increased demand, he can enjoy an "annual salary" of hundreds of millions of dollars with this patent for up to five years.

The trouble is, however, that the task of the system waits for no one.

If this authorization method is followed, Lu Zhou's asset growth this year can only rely on Princeton's annual salary of $400,000.

So, he came up with a compromise.

It can not only ensure that he can get a considerable income in the short term, but also ensure long-term benefits.

After a pause, Lu Zhou said his proposal.

"In the global market other than China, I am willing to grant you the right to use the modified PDMS film patent for three years and the right to act as an agent at a price of 200 million US dollars."

"During the three-year term, you will enjoy a substantial exclusive patent license to the global market outside of China, and I will not make additional licenses to third parties. In exchange, you will receive 50% of the direct or indirect benefits arising from your sub-licensing to a third party, and at the same time assume all corresponding legal obligations and liabilities. ”

Originally, when she heard the offer of $200 million, Carrodit was still a little unimpressed.

However, when he heard Lu Zhou talk about the back, a trace of surprise or excitement suddenly flashed in his eyes.

In principle, patents are inherently exclusive and monopolistic, but in the current laws of various countries, the interpretation of the exclusive right of intellectual property rights is not unlimited.

Theoretically, even if Umicore buys the patent for lithium anode materials at a sky-high price that Lu Zhou cannot refuse, it is impossible to monopolize the production of this product for 20 years and arbitrarily exclude other companies.

This is because, in addition to the Patent Law, each country has its own Anti-Monopoly Law, which clearly defines the abuse of intellectual property rights.

To put it simply, if a patent is "irreplaceable", resulting in a company's market share in a certain region constituting a monopoly, it may face an antitrust investigation.

If the lithium anode material replaces the graphite anode with an overwhelming advantage, the modified PDMS thin film technology will undoubtedly meet the "irreplaceable" element before the emergence of similar lithium anode materials.

For this type of patent, such as refusal of licensing, price discrimination, and sky-high licensing fees, all behaviors that may constitute monopoly elements will violate the antitrust regulations.

As for where the boundaries of the law are, it is necessary to conduct case studies on various factors, and at the same time, it also requires an excellent team of lawyers to cooperate with the company's senior management to frantically test the edge of danger.

These sassy operations, with Lu Zhou's current ability, will definitely not be able to play.

But Umicore is different.

This kind of multinational chemical giant is more familiar with the things inside the rules than he is.

Even if it is for its own interests, it will certainly increase the patent licensing fee as much as possible within the legal limit and expand its advantages in the anode material market.

In the past three years, Luzhou has been able to continue to obtain a considerable patent licensing fee, and Umicore has been able to get the market competitiveness it wants.

In this regard, the interests of both sides are aligned.

Perfectly hiding the excitement that flashed in her pupils, Carrodit hesitated for a moment with a look of embarrassment on her face.

"Three years is too short, if it were five years, I would have accepted your offer. You know, we only spent $10 million to license the LFP material from Clariant......"

"There is no comparison." Lu Zhou shook his head with a smile and said, "LFP material is just a cathode material with cost advantages. And don't think I don't know, the $10 million you're talking about is just the entry threshold, and you have to pay $2,000 to Clariant subsidiaries for every ton of LFP material you produce. ”

Pierced in front of her, Carodiet's expression did not change at all.

As if he had made some kind of decision, he stared at Lu Zhou with blazing eyes and only said two words.

"Four hundred million!"

Hearing this number, Lu Zhou's heart beat hard.

Four hundred million dollars!

For him, it's not just about money, it's about 400,000 free experiences behind it......

Honestly, he was moved.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Zhou slowly spoke.

"Four years at most, that's my bottom line. After four years, if we have a good relationship, I will consider renewing the contract with you at a new price. Or, I'm sure Nichia Chemical and 3M will be interested in the same contract. ”

The last sentence seems to have played a decisive role.

Carrodit originally wanted to fight for it, but there were not many bargaining chips for negotiation, after all, Lu Zhou was not controlled by others in scientific research funding, and he was also a well-known scholar in the academic world.

Especially when he thought that Nichia Chemical might really be able to offer a higher price, a very thought flashed in his heart, and finally his shoulders were loosened and he reluctantly made concessions.

"Well, you win, four years for four years."

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