Chapter 65 Contesting me Again Huh?
"Wa-wa-wait…someone is contesting my solar panel? That's ridiculous, who is this person?" Michael's voice betrayed a mix of disbelief and frustration as he grappled with the unexpected news. The revelation seemed absurd, given that the high-efficiency solar panel was too advanced for this time to the point no one could have thought of a drawing or a prototype.
"Well, I can't tell you the name; it's in our policy. Plus, all calls are recorded, so if I tell you, I will lose my job. It's best that you come here personally so we can discuss your next steps," the voice on the other end of the line responded
Michael took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of thoughts racing through his mind. The idea that someone could challenge the authenticity or originality of his solar panel was not just surprising but deeply unsettling. Could it be the Solar Dynamics Corporation doing their dirty thing again? Professor Delgado noticed the shift in his expression and prodded.
"What's the matter, it seems like a serious call." "Well someone is claiming that my solar panel has a patent conflict, which doesn't make any sense," Michael explained, his frustration evident. He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "I need to sort this out as soon as possible."
Professor Delgado nodded understandingly. "You better get this sorted out. The board of directors just gave you a reward for your invention and if they find out that there is someone contesting it, it might complicate things. But remember, the university is behind you. We have resources and legal support that can help."
Michael nodded. "Thank you, Professor. I'll head to the patent office now and get this right." "How will you get there? You are going to book Grab?" Michael hummed aloud, pondering for a moment. He already got his driver's license but he didn't retrieve the car from the dealership yet. So yeah…he'll have to take a grab to get to the Intellectual Property Office in Taguig.
Michael pulled out his phone and opened the app to book a ride. As he waited for the driver to accept his request, he didn't realize that the call hadn't ended yet. "Mr. Reyes…are you still there? Hello?"
"I'm still here…" Michael promptly placed the phone on his ear, realizing he had nearly forgotten about the caller. "Sorry, I was just... I'll be heading to the office as soon as I can. Thank you for letting me know," Michael quickly added before ending the call.
"The driver is here, I'll be heading out now," Michael said, gathering his things and giving Professor Delgado a determined nod. The professor gave him an encouraging pat on the back as Michael headed out of the office.
Outside, the campus was still bustling with students and faculty, but Michael's focus was singular. He swiftly navigated through the crowd, his thoughts on the challenge ahead. The ride-share app indicated his driver was just a few minutes away, allowing him a moment of respite to collect his thoughts.
"Taguig, Intellectual Property Office," Michael confirmed with the driver as he settled into the backseat of the car. Thirty minutes later.
As the car pulled up to the entrance, Michael felt a surge of resolve. He was ready to defend his solar panel, armed with the knowledge that his invention was a genuine product of his exclusive system.
Stepping out of the car, Michael squared his shoulders and entered the building. At the reception desk, Michael stated his purpose.
"I'm here to discuss a patent conflict regarding my solar panel invention," he announced. "I just got a call from the officer here."
"Oh, I see…what's the name of the officer?" "He sent me a detail of his identification," Michael pulled his phone out and showed the screen to the receptionist.
"Ahh…okay, you may proceed to his office now," the receptionist directed Michael towards a corridor on the left. "It's the third door to your right. You can't miss it."
Michael thanked her and followed the directions, his mind racing with scenarios of what the patent conflict could entail. He found the office easily, marked by a small plaque with the officer's name and title.
He knocked firmly and waited for a response.
"Come in," a voice called from inside.
Michael entered to find a middle-aged man seated behind a desk cluttered with papers and folders, a computer screen displaying several documents. The man looked up and recognized him in an instant.
"Mr. Reyes…please have a seat." Michael took a seat Michael took a seat across from the patent officer, his posture straight, mirroring the seriousness of the situation.
"Now…what the heck was that? I did ask you to expedite the process so I can get the patent for my invention. And now there's someone claiming it? Now you can tell me who the hell is it." "I can't tell you the name but I can give you a clue, he works alone. He is not affiliated to any company or organization."
"So you're telling me that this is a lone man?" Michael guessed.
I'm here to help you continue your story. Let's dive right in from where you left off:
"Possibly, he even sent me a schematic diagram through email," the patent officer confirmed, turning his computer screen to face Michael. Displayed on the screen was a complex diagram, lines, and annotations covering every inch of the digital document.
Michael leaned forward, scrutinizing the schematic with a critical eye. As he traced the design's flow and components, a scoff escaped him. "This... this is just a poor imitation of my solar panel. The efficiency rates they're claiming here are unachievable with the materials they've listed. And this circuit layout," Michael pointed at a section of the diagram, "it's fundamentally flawed. There's no way it could handle the thermal load without significant degradation over time."
The patent officer watched Michael's analysis with growing interest. "So, you're saying their claim is technically unsound?"
"Completely," Michael confirmed. "The design is not just inferior; it's infeasible. Any practical application of this schematic would result in a product far below the efficiency and durability standards my panel achieves. It seems like they've taken the basic premise of my technology and attempted to reverse-engineer it without understanding the underlying principles."
The officer nodded, making notes on a pad beside him. "This is valuable insight, Mr. Reyes. However, this doesn't change the fact that someone is claiming your patent. Two things could happen here. First, you settle it in person and if it didn't work, then you are going to take it to the court and let the judge decide who owns the rightful patent. But given your explanation, it seems like you have a strong case against this claim."
Michael's jaw set firmly. "I worked tirelessly on my solar panel, ensuring every aspect was meticulously designed for peak performance and sustainability. I'm not going to let someone's baseless claim undermine that. If it comes to it, I'm prepared to defend my invention in court."
The officer leaned back in his chair, regarding Michael thoughtfully. "I can see you're serious about this, and rightfully so. I'll need you to prepare a detailed rebuttal of this claim, highlighting the technical inaccuracies and how your invention distinctly surpasses what's been presented here. We'll also need documentation of your design process, any prototypes, testing data—anything that solidifies your claim to the patent."
Michael nodded, already mentally compiling the list of documents and evidence he would need to gather. "I'll start on that right away. How soon do you need everything?"
"As soon as possible," the officer replied. "The quicker we can resolve this, the better. I'll also be reviewing the claimant's submission in more detail, but your input will be crucial in disputing their allegations."
"Understood," Michael said, rising from his seat. "Thank you for your guidance on this. I'll get you everything you need."
With a firm handshake, Michael left the office, his resolve hardened. He still feels that the Solar Dynamics Corporation is behind all of this, because it's too obvious, they are still bitter from the aftermath. Well, he is going to make them regret their decision to go against him again.
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