For TORCH Multiphysics, which has been operating steadily for more than a year and has almost no competitors on the market, the official release is actually a smooth thing.

The main thing is to push a new version and take this opportunity to start charging.

So, the three of them didn't stay on this topic for too long.

"That's right, Mr. Chang."

Just when Chang Haonan was about to announce the end of the meeting, Yang Huimei suddenly changed her words:

"When I was involved in the negotiation of other projects before, I encountered a lot of disputes over software intellectual property."

"In the past, our software was free to try, so naturally there was nothing to say, but now that we start to charge, considering the reproducibility of computer programs, I think it is difficult to guarantee that no one will use pirated copies."

"Moreover, even if we don't consider the problem of cracking encryption, we have released so many trial versions before, if they continue to use it, we only rely on a user agreement, I am afraid it will be difficult to produce constraints in operation, right?"

When TORCH Multiphysics was first released two years ago, Chang Haonan found someone to write a multi-language version of the user agreement for each major region of the world.

However, Yang Huimei's concerns are indeed justified.

From the late 90s to the beginning of the 21st century, due to the lack of clarity of legal provisions and difficulties in law enforcement, piracy was relatively rampant all over the world.

Not to mention Huaxia.

How many software companies have been pirated to death in these years.

In order to prevent theft, many games can only set up levels that cannot be passed by normal means in the game content, and then come with a strategy book with genuine software.

The domestic office software WSP also almost collapsed at this stage.

"I think large enterprises and institutions should be fine, our Torch Group, of course, and Chang Zong, how to say it is also registered on it, TORCH Multiphysics software is a key project of basic industry approved by the state, there should be no one who is blind to this kind of thing."

As the director of the office, Song Jingming does not know much about the problems at the business level, but he has a clear view of the general trend:

"Therefore, I think the main problem may be small and medium-sized enterprise users, as well as universities and research institutions."

"I already have preliminary ideas for universities and research institutes."

Chang Haonan waved his hand directly:

"We have finally taken this opportunity to stand at the forefront of the field of numerical computing in the world, and we must still play some social responsibility in the field of education."

"What's more, cultivating new blood is also good for ourselves, after all, it is impossible to expect others to never come up with products with similar functions as ours, but if the users of numerical simulation all over the world have adapted to the operation of TORCH Multiphysics when they are students, it will form an innate barrier for those who come after us."

"When the time comes, they will not be able to compare with us in terms of computing performance, software ecology, and user habits, even if they have a better price advantage, or even if it is free, it will be difficult to pose a threat to us."

As a Chinese engineer who has experienced the 2020s, Chang Haonan knows too well how much benefit these hidden costs will bring to first-mover companies.

In the years when commercial software was intensively turned to localization, even if the file formats were common to each other, there were many compatibility problems that needed to be handled manually.

As for those who can't even open each other's project files, the transformation is even more of a nightmare.

It can be said that if it weren't for a large wave of assistance from across the ocean, software or hardware, it would be impossible for China to have such a strong incentive to engage in the same type of substitution.

And now.

Thirty years in the east of the river, thirty years in the west of the river.

It was finally his turn to become a pioneer, and Chang Haonan certainly couldn't let go of the opportunity to fight back.

"So you mean ......"

Song Jingming said and spread out the notebook.

"For educational institutions, we can offer a free student version of the software, and even a full set of tutorials and training, in fact, just change the name of the current trial version, but add a few more features so that we can check at a glance which project file is from the free version."

"Of course, this version is only for the educational process, and if you want to use it in research results or projects, you still need to buy our commercial version of the software."

"It's a good way to start with the students......

Song Jingming put pen to paper in the notebook, and quickly recorded what Chang Haonan said:

"But how is this version going to be promoted?"

"I mean, you can't just advertise that we have a student version of the software that doesn't cost money."

"It's easy."

Chang Haonan's answer is almost unthinking:

"Two years ago, I compiled a textbook on numerical simulation......"

"Huh?"

He just started talking, and Song Jingming's note-taking action stopped directly:

"You've also made textbooks?"

"Ah......h

The latter's sudden surprise made Chang Haonan a little confused:

"This ...... They are all their own people who know their roots, so they don't need to behave so exaggerated, right? ”

Song Jingming's answer was a little stumbling:

"No...... I just feel that the people who compile the textbooks should be the kind of old industry leaders......"

As he spoke, his voice became quieter and quieter, and finally he couldn't hear it—

To put it bluntly, it's a matter of mindset.

Song Jingming joined the Torch Group relatively late, and has not participated in the development process of TORCH Multiphysics, and has little to do with institutions such as Jinghang University.

From his point of view, although Chang Haonan is indeed very powerful, he is mainly an image of a "young and promising leader of state-owned enterprises".

But if you think about it carefully, you will find that although Chang Haonan is not very old, he can already be regarded as a leader in the industry.

The compilation of teaching materials is certainly qualified.

Chang Haonan also knew that the other party was dark under the lamp, so he just waved his hand and continued:

"In short, most of the domestic colleges and universities should use my book for classes now, as long as I can find some cases to compile a practice manual or something like that, and let those colleges and universities open a practical course."

He didn't dare to say anything about the wider field, but he was definitely a monopoly in the whole field of numerical simulation.

A person is likely to use the textbooks he compiled since he was a student, read the papers he sent after entering the laboratory, and still use the software issued by the Torch Group when he is doing research......

Yang Huimei on the other side was a professor of Jinghang after all, so she didn't act too surprised, but she also shook her head slightly, feeling a bit outrageous, and then began to think about why her children were not so competitive......

The more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she became, and finally decided to change the topic directly:

"Then universities and research institutions are like this, the focus is still on small and medium-sized enterprises, our software annual fee is at least six figures, some small companies have a lot of incentive to engage in trial version through some channels for commercial use, if this sum is calculated, it is definitely a big loss."

"What about just grasping the big and letting go of the small?"

Song Jingming obviously didn't have any good way, at the turn of the century, in fact, there were already many professors and researchers who opened their own small companies outside, and they were using the resources of the school and the graduate students under them to help them make extra money.

It is difficult to completely strangle an enterprise of this size.

"It's definitely not enough to just focus on the big and let go of the small."

After all, Yang Huimei's experience is still old-fashioned, and she directly rejected this idea:

"We don't know what is big and what is small, for example, I opened a large company, but all the business involving numerical simulation is outsourced, and the probability of outsourcing is that of a very small company, so we can't just ignore it, right?"

"I think we still have to start from the perspective of legal affairs, set up a special legal department, target those who take advantage of this kind of loophole, and crush two to death from time to time, at least there must be a deterrent, otherwise wouldn't it be seen as a soft persimmon?"

In fact, Chang Haonan thought about it similar to Song Jingming at the beginning, just grasp the big and let go of the small, and just hold the users of large enterprises and large institutions.

But listening to Yang Huimei's words, it does make sense.

In the field of intellectual property, some companies have never lost the lower limit......

(End of chapter)