[Chapter 902: Steve Jobs's Mix-up]
"Creative freedom? Buddy, it's your company; I only have advisory power, right? Michael, if this goes through, Disney won't interfere with Pixar's creativity."
Michael Eisner felt somewhat disgruntled as he glanced at his boss. However, since the boss had agreed, and it didn't seem to severely affect Disney, he decided to keep quiet.
"Steve, you've been in Hollywood for years, and you've definitely played the field. How could you actually demand that I set a release date? Don't you know that once this agreement is signed, a bunch of people will sue me for monopolization?"
Steve Jobs was taken aback, initially a bit frustrated. "You're the one who's played the field; I'm very upright about these things." But after realizing that he might have misunderstood the issue, he pressed on, "William, does this agreement need to be public?"
William White looked puzzled, and Michael Eisner was equally bewildered. How did his thought process lead to that?
"Ahem, Steve, I've always thought that your eagerness to sign this supplementary agreement was to inspire more confidence among investors."
Steve Jobs was now curious. Given the current enthusiastic sign-ups, did he need to inspire more confidence? He thought not.
"William, do you think this will positively affect the stock price?"
Both sides' lawyers were present, but it was clear that Steve Jobs's lawyer was getting a little restless.
"I need to use the restroom for a minute; I'll be back in five," William White said, leading a group of aides away.
At this critical moment for the IPO, many things couldn't be said lightly. William had already been quite direct, and if he had been any more so, problems could have arisen.
This was why lawyers thrived in the U.S. They ensured you knew what you could say and what you couldn't.
The person across from you wasn't just a shareholder; he was the chairman of Disney. Most importantly, Disney was a related party to Pixar. This relationship was already sensitive, and if you didn't want any issues, you'd better be precise. Otherwise, why would I need you to bring a lawyer?
Negotiations were supposed to be conducted in the presence of both parties' lawyers to effectively minimize risks.
"David, I just want to establish some control here."
"Steve, as your lawyer, I must remind you that Disney is almost your only client for the next decade. Your company's stock price will definitely be impacted by Disney. Some things you cannot say; some discussions are necessary. Steve, you need to tell me what to discuss. And, ahem, you should bring a subordinate with you."
Steve Jobs was feeling a bit obstinate and thought no one could represent him.
"David, I don't understand; can you clarify?"
"Typically, a subordinate would be very firm, unwilling to budge for profit. As for the boss, you can chat over California sunshine."
"Alright, David, I think I may have misunderstood. By the way, this agreement really does benefit the stock price."
"Of course, if the conditions are favorable for us. What was said earlier? Ten films over ten years? If possible, it would be best to make six films. If we can secure a bit more profit from merchandise, like getting a project into Disneyland, they're really making money now, aren't they?"
That was classic banter; after all, Disney was known for more than just animated films. Its market value now exceeded that of White Films. Who dared to say it wasn't profitable?
"David, how shall we proceed?"
"If my estimate is correct, you need to negotiate with Michael. Ahem, it may get fiery, but judging by William White's demeanor, he doesn't seem inclined to make it difficult for you."
William White did not expect this would occur at such a pivotal moment. Steve Jobs still took this approach. "You didn't mean that; why didn't you say so beforehand? Why come to me now?"
Sure enough, during the ensuing negotiations around merchandise rights, Steve Jobs and Michael had a heated confrontation. In the end, both their lawyers rolled up their sleeves to settle matters.
It seemed that Steve Jobs was correct; Disney did make some concessions. Pixar retained its creative independence, and Disney would strive to secure a suitable release period. Since it was a joint release, Disney obviously wouldn't erase Pixar's mark.
Michael Eisner remained somewhat confused. Why bother negotiating so much with Steve Jobs when it would be easier just to acquire them?
He didn't know that William White was not a fan of overly bloated companies. Enterprises without competitors gradually headed for mediocrity.
Companies like Motorola and Ericsson had once faced no rivals. Even Nokia faced challenges. Where are those companies now?
They're either barely surviving or being picked apart. Ultimately, a company that always got pushed around, like Samsung, ended up becoming a real leader.
If it weren't for some shady moves by the U.S., who knows if Apple would be doing so well?
Samsung later got into a spat about their chip, claiming, "Our chips are better than Qualcomm's 865; why don't you use them?"
But there was fear of using them!
The U.K. wasn't afraid of the U.S. because they had their own market. South Korea, besides its kimchi, simply had nothing to showcase.
If the Americans applied the same approach, who believed that Samsung wouldn't become the second HTC?
It was undeniable that those at Samsung's upper echelons were quite aware. Money was good, but they had to pay taxes to the U.S. The so-called Qualcomm tax didn't just benefit Qualcomm, you know.
It was unfortunate that the founders of American companies were truly brilliant. They devised a highly effective way to govern the country. To promote corporate innovation, they even established antitrust laws.
Those ancestors consumed all the smarts, leaving their descendants somewhat duller. It's ironic; not adhering to game rules only strengthens competitors while weakening American companies.
My chip falling short hardly matters; you'll still have to pay a hefty price. If my software isn't superb, well, if I get annoyed, I'll just stop you from using it.
Before long, American companies would lose their innovative spirit altogether.
This was quite frustrating. Since the nineties, what had been commendable about the U.S. was its innovation. Ever since Steve Jobs passed away, the once bustling Silicon Valley had not produced another significant figure.
The final terms of shared investment and profit were accepted by both William White and Steve Jobs.
Given that the script hadn't been confirmed yet, the investment held certain risks. If Toy Story's box office hadn't been so stellar, forget William White; even his subordinates wouldn't agree.
Steve Jobs realized that there were no saints in Hollywood. The tigers here devoured people just the same, and other tigers wouldn't hold back either.
"William, stop acting grumpy; you're benefiting from this, okay?"
"Pfft, don't kid around; your script isn't even out yet. The only one bold enough to invest without a script is White Productions. Now look at you, becoming the second one; do you know I'll be ridiculed senseless by the old-timers?"
Steve Jobs found it hard to refute that. Titanic had already spent over $200 million, and though everyone regarded it as a money loser, some were still considering investing.
Thus, when William White said this, no one dared to argue against it. Not even Steve Jobs could.
"Pfft, they're superstitious. By the way, when will your Titanic be all wrapped up?"
"Sigh, can't you follow a conversation? Used the wrong props; I'm in the process of reshooting some scenes."
Steve Jobs was momentarily taken aback. Hadn't they completely replicated the ship one-to-one? How could he possibly use the wrong props?
"Coffee cup?"
"Alright, you rich folks certainly know how to play. ",
*****
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