Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: You Wouldn't Dare Copy Me Even If I Let You

At Milo's words, David Filo's eyes twitched slightly, his expression becoming somewhat awkward as he exchanged glances with Jerry Yang.Milo was right. If he hadn't mentioned that his ideas were protected, the two would have definitely copied them immediately after he left!But with the ideas protected, the situation was different.Although internet-related legislation wasn't as clear-cut then, America was already the world leader in copyright and patent protection.Especially since the two knew that the young millionaire before them came from a Boston financial dynasty.If the company really did copy his ideas, and those ideas were indeed backed up and protected in advance.Then Yahoo would be in serious trouble.Milo observed their reactions and felt a sense of satisfaction.Seeing these intelligent men discomfited was definitely a pleasant experience."David, Jerry, don't worry," Milo said with a smile. "Those little ideas I mentioned were just some thoughts based on Yahoo's user experience. The truly valuable ideas are here," he tapped his head and winked at them. "I think you'll like them, guys.""Oh, Milo, you know you're one of the company's largest shareholders," David Filo tried to appeal to their shared interests. "Shouldn't you be thinking more about the company? The stronger the company, the greater your profits!"But Milo simply smiled. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's get to the meeting room. The sooner we finish, the sooner I can get to other things!"The two groups, each surrounding their respective leaders, headed towards Yahoo's meeting room.Staff had already prepared the room, with bottled water placed at each seat.After everyone entered the meeting room and took their seats, the meeting began.The meeting was originally scheduled for yesterday, but it had been postponed to today because of Milo's shooting incident.The reason Yahoo had invited Milo was that its two founders had become ambitious.Not long ago, David Filo and Jerry Yang had invited people from Sequoia Capital.They had held a meeting that had gone very well.So, they pressed on and immediately invited Milo.The two Yahoo founders had a simple goal: they wanted power.Milo and Sequoia Capital each held 35% of Yahoo's shares.Jerry Yang and David Filo jointly held 30%.The myth of Netscape's IPO had not yet happened.Yahoo's situation was also not good; it was running out of money.Yahoo wasn't worth much back then.Milo and Sequoia Capital had jointly stepped in and successfully acquired such a large share.But things were different now. With Netscape's successful IPO.The internet boom was upon them, and the continuous ringing of the Nasdaq bell was imminent.In just a few months, Yahoo's valuation on Sand Hill Road and Wall Street had increased nearly tenfold!At least ten groups had contacted Yahoo and David Filo and Jerry Yang.These people naturally wanted to invest in Yahoo. Why else would they contact them? Because they were handsome?The prices they offered were tempting, even enough for the two to achieve financial freedom early.The problem was that most of Yahoo's shares were not in their hands.Jerry Yang and David Filo awkwardly realized that if they wanted financial freedom now.They would have to sell a large portion of their shares.But if they sold, they would truly become mere employees.Some said they could sell their shares, get the money first.And then create another Yahoo, right? They would have the money and a new company. They had the ability to do so.However, reality didn't allow for this.Even without considering Yahoo's biggest advantage, its first-mover advantage.Jerry Yang and David Filo couldn't do this.Because when they sold their shares, they would definitely be subject to non-compete agreements, requiring them to stay with the company for a certain number of years.So, this was simply impossible unless they encountered a complete fool as a buyer.But if they didn't sell, watching the greenbacks slip away.They were very unwilling.They were clearly the founders of the company!The two privately regretted accepting Milo's investment a few months ago.If they had been more patient, they could have endured for a few more months.And at that time, Netscape's IPO was less than a month away. If they had held on, their combined share wouldn't have been less than 25%.Unlike now, where they only had a meager 15%.Neither David Filo nor Jerry Yang were content with the status quo.Otherwise, they wouldn't have abandoned their jobs as university lecturers and teaching assistants to start a business in Silicon Valley.So, after discussing it, the two decided to reach out to Milo and Sequoia Capital.They wanted shares, phantom shares, and the power to decide the company's future development, namely corresponding voting rights.Sequoia Capital had tentatively agreed but insisted that Yahoo persuade Milo.Hence, Milo's visit to Yahoo today for the meeting.Before coming, Milo had discussed the matter with his think tank.Everything would proceed according to plan; he wouldn't interrupt.But this time, he planned to reveal all his cards.The reason Milo had revealed those good ideas during the company tour was simply to increase his bargaining chips.The ideas Milo mentioned, although not some of the features Yahoo later added in his previous life that were listed in his documents.Were enough to strengthen and upgrade the current Yahoo.Yahoo didn't lack competitors. The internet was all about ideas, and even the smallest improvement or enhancement was a crucial factor in completely defeating the competition.Yahoo had its current valuation purely because it was the earliest portal website.It held the first-mover advantage in the portal website field.China's future Sina, NetEase, and Sohu were all initially built based on Yahoo's model.But now, some people in Silicon Valley had seen Yahoo's potential.Some were already imitating Yahoo, creating new portal websites.Milo and his think tank believed that once Jerry Yang and David Filo knew about these ideas.They would definitely not give them up easily.What if Milo turned around and invested in other similar companies, selling these ideas to them?For example, the Surfer website that Microsoft had invested in half a year ago—Not the Surfer of the future, but the Surfer of 1995.It was a search directory website that Microsoft had invested in after seeing Yahoo's potential.The nascent Yahoo saw it as its first competitor, although in the parallel timeline, Surfer had failed.It hadn't even launched; Microsoft had worked on it for over a year and then given up.But David Filo and Jerry Yang didn't know that.They knew that thanks to Microsoft, Bill Gates had become the world's richest man this year.Compared to the behemoth that was Microsoft, the entire Silicon Valley was just small fry.David Filo and Jerry Yang were naturally worried about Surfer's emergence.Milo's think tank had analyzed this point, and this was undoubtedly a good advantage for the upcoming negotiations and the fight for profits.As for Yahoo plagiarizing, Milo could only chuckle.If he were just an ordinary person or a regular Yahoo employee.Then Yahoo could indeed plagiarize, and it would be pointless even if he complained.But now, he was a well-known best-selling author, a big name who had recently dominated the news headlines.David Filo and Jerry Yang also knew that Milo was a member of a Boston financial dynasty.The current Yahoo wasn't the successful, publicly listed Yahoo of the future.Unless they had powerful figures backing them now, they wouldn't consider that path.And during face-to-face negotiations, more than twenty people from both sides were present.With lawyers on both sides, Milo absolutely welcomed Yahoo to plagiarize.That would make things even more interesting and would definitely lead to Yahoo's downfall.Well, Milo was just thinking about it; he didn't want a one-time deal.Having already seen the proven success of Yahoo, he wasn't considering Surfer.Moreover, Surfer was being led by Microsoft, a giant.The still weak Jerry Yang and David Filo were easier to talk to.Yahoo's future was what he was looking forward to. Therefore, the negotiations became very intense from the very beginning.