You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 35

You Have Been Defended – Episode 35

Blue Island Media was located in the middle of Chungmuro’s main street.

Looking at the directory next to the elevator, it was a large production company, renting and using three floors in this big building.

For such a place to be merely plagiarizing the manuscripts of aspiring writers.

It was truly astonishing that they not only stole a few unique ideas but also showed the audacity to use the script as is.

Although it’s said to be a common occurrence in the broadcasting industry, this was excessive.

It meant they either had nothing to fear or had become desensitized because they had done it so often.

It would be one of the two.

“Attorney.”

Kang Min-jae, who was waiting for the elevator, had a playful look on his face.

“Wanna bet?”

“What kind of bet?”

“Dinner. Blue Island Media will try to settle, or they’ll deny it. We bet on different outcomes.”

“Can I choose first?”

“Go ahead.”

“They’ll deny it.”

“Aish. Then I automatically have to go for inducing a settlement.”

Kang Min-jae grumbled, feeling like he had been outmaneuvered.

Betting on the case of a client who was going through a difficult time wasn’t a good attitude.

But on the other hand, it also meant that the situation was so absurd that it could be a mere betting matter.

“What brings you here?”

As we arrived at the Blue Island Media lobby desk, an employee stood up and asked.

“We’re from Attorney Cha Ju-han’s office.”

Kang Min-jae handed over his business card as he answered, and the employee led the way, telling us to follow.

Even though it was well past quitting time, quite a few employees remained in the office.

It seemed that all the employees couldn’t avoid working overtime due to the sudden announcement of the lawsuit today.

“This way.”

Inside the seminar room, people from Blue Island Media and Tae Kwang Law Firm were already present.

Judging by their attire, these two seemed to be the lawyers.

And the others seemed to be employees.

“Hello.”

A young woman wearing a lawyer’s badge approached us and offered a handshake.

I took her hand and shook it lightly.

The person who called was a man, so it must be the young lawyer sitting next to her.

Probably an associate.

“Attorney Cha Ju-han, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you. Your achievements are impressive. You’re as handsome as I heard.”

“Nice to meet you.”

We briefly exchanged business cards and took our seats across from them.

Attorney Yu Jeong-won.

As expected, she specializes in copyright law, and her age is probably similar to mine or a little younger.

If I don’t remember her, it seems we’ve had no contact so far.

It didn’t seem like we overlapped during our time at the Judicial Research and Training Institute either.

“Attorney Kang. Long time no see.”

“Hello.”

Yu Jeong-won also greeted Kang Min-jae.

Kang Min-jae had once been with Tae Kwang, so it wasn’t strange that they knew each other.

“Well, shall we start with a brief introduction? This is CEO Kim Hyun-cheol of Blue Island Media. And this is writer Jeong Hye-jin.”

“I’m Cha Ju-han. This is Attorney Kang Min-jae, who is working with me on the case.”

“Attorney Choi. Could you lower the blinds?”

When Yu Jeong-won spoke to the associate lawyer sitting next to her, he quickly began to lower the blinds on the glass wall of the seminar room.

There were still employees left, and they must be overwhelmed by today’s article, so it wouldn’t be good to show lawyers coming and going.

“Shall we get started in earnest?”

She was skilled at taking the lead in conversations.

Even if it seemed like nothing, such aspects were quite important points for a lawyer.

Especially in front of a client, it could give the impression that she was leading the atmosphere and the opposing lawyer was being passively drawn in.

It was a good strategy to increase trust.

“Sure. First of all, may I ask one customary question each before we begin?”

I asked, looking at Kim Hyun-cheol and Jeong Hye-jin.

“I’ll answer on their behalf as their lawyer.”

“No, it’s not a part that requires legal knowledge. As I said before, it’s a customary question.”

“Even if legal knowledge isn’t required, there’s a reason why a lawyer accompanies them when having legal conversations.”

Yu Jeong-won said with a smile.

I continued speaking without paying attention.

“Writer. Have you ever plagiarized the scenario by Na Eun-sung, our office’s client?”

The reason I agreed to this sudden meeting was to ask these two questions.

Originally, I would have met them after a certain period to make the defendant anxious, but fact-checking was a top priority.

“Writer. You don’t have to answer. Attorney Cha, it’s as stated in the press release.”

“I know, but it’s the point at issue in this case. It’s a customary question, so please answer comfortably.”

Jeong Hye-jin looked at Yu Jeong-won, then shifted her gaze back to me.

“I have not.”

[Lie]

Indeed.

I was relieved.

I thought there was a high possibility even after seeing the script, but there are always possibilities.

The moment when suspicion turns into certainty.

There’s no time as satisfying as this moment of verifying the facts.

Whether I should take on the case, or whether I should continue to take on the case.

Because that’s the moment when the answer comes out.

“Just one more question. This time, I’ll ask both of you together.”

“Attorney Cha.”

“It’s also a customary question. I can’t confirm anything with a yes or no answer.”

I calmed the wary Yu Jeong-won.

Of course, I can confirm a lot with a yes or no answer, but it’s an area she doesn’t know.

“Has Na Eun-sung’s scenario ever made it to the second round of selections?”

“Attorney Cha? Are you aware that you’re being very rude?”

Yu Jeong-won asked, tapping the table.

I looked at them without paying attention.

They were already answers they had put out in the press release, and they had already coordinated their stories.

They were questions they could answer as much as they wanted, and Jeong Hye-jin would answer very unpleasantly.

“It has not been submitted. I clearly stated in the press release that it was not selected, so I could not review the scenario.”

[Lie]

Yang Hye-jin answered stiffly, as if she was very displeased.

All works that make it to the second round of selections are sent to the printing house.

At least, it means Tae-shik is not doing meaningless actions.

“Are you done asking questions now, Attorney Cha?”

“Yes.”

Yu Jeong-won would think that I’m just checking if they’re giving the same answers as the press release.

She wouldn’t know that I’ve gained enough to leave right now.

I suppressed the urge to contact Tae-shik immediately and urge him to find the printing history as soon as possible.

“I know you’ve filed for an injunction to ban the broadcast. You know it’s practically a meaningless application, right?”

Yu Jeong-won asked in a rather relaxed tone.

It wasn’t a news program that violated human rights, so of course, a ban wouldn’t be issued within a week.

Surely, she doesn’t think I filed for an injunction without knowing that.

It seems I’m being quite underestimated.

“Continue.”

“As for the trial, let me be honest. I’ve been handling copyright disputes for 10 years. I’ve been involved in over 300 trials, big and small. No one would know that this trial is a stretch. I don’t know why someone who should know better is making the situation so big. Only Na Eun-sung will get hurt.”

Yu Jeong-won was openly looking down on me, a rookie lawyer.

As a rookie lawyer and with this being my first civil trial, it was understandable that I would look ridiculous to her, who has 10 years of experience.

“, produced by Blue Island Media, did not plagiarize the work by the plaintiff Na Eun-sung. If we go to trial, it will be revealed more clearly.”

“Then, does Blue Island Media not acknowledge the numerous similarities between Na Eun-sung’s scenario and ?”

Yu Jeong-won smiled at my question.

“We don’t deny everything. We acknowledge that there are some similarities, but… we believe that there are many similarities that inevitably arise from the same setting within the framework of genre clichés. Apart from those points, they are completely different works. I understand to some extent that Na Eun-sung, an aspiring writer, is obsessed with the idea of being plagiarized. She can think that way because she doesn’t know well. Should I call it a common case of self-consciousness excess of a novice writer?”

If Na Eun-sung were here, she would have been greatly hurt by Yu Jeong-won’s words.

It was a great relief that I didn’t bring her.

“When did Na Eun-sung finalize her synopsis?”

“2006.”

“As explained in the press release, writer Jeong Hye-jin first discussed with the PD [Producer Director] in 2006 as well. Did Na Eun-sung ever publicly release her scenario outside in 2006?”

“No.”

“Yes. Then, after all… unless writer Jeong Hye-jin hacked into the computer of Na Eun-sung, an aspiring writer with no connection to her, and rummaged through the files to see the synopsis of , plagiarism cannot be established.”

Yu Jeong-won smiled as if she was sorry.

The sarcastic tone wasn’t very pleasant, but knowing that such things are tactics in their own way, there was no impact.

…Kang Min-jae, who was trembling with his fists clenched, seemed a bit different, though.