32. LEGAL ISSUES
As he had promised her daughter, Nina's father showed up at the record company, asked to meet with his lawyer, and gave the front desk secretary his impressive business card with the mention of “State Prosecutor” in gold letters. The receptionist was alarmed and decided to report her unexpected visit directly to the Managing Director.
“A state prosecutor? Ask him what the reason for his visit is.”
Moments later, she informed him he was Nina's father and wishes to meet with our lawyer…
“Nina's father, state attorney? I never would have imagined it! The children of state lawyers normally study law, but they are never part of the entertaining business.”
“Okay, tell him that I will come to meet him in a few moments myself.” He ordered his office and withdrew all the reports and other documents and left to meet him.
“Are you Nina's father? It is a pleasure to meet you! But we go to my office, and you tell me what the reason for his pleasant visit is.”
Nina's father was confused because he did not expect to be received with such courtesy; he was sure that they should already know the reason for their visit.
“Here nobody will bother us, do you want to drink something, a beer, a soft drink, or maybe a glass of cognac. I can also offer you a coffee; they will bring it to us in a moment. But take a seat, please, feel at home.”
“No, thanks, I want nothing, but I want to go to the matter that brought me here ...”
“Well, what is that matter? I do not think we have any pending litigation with the State.”
“This is about my daughter, Nina, I think your company has committed a crime of abuse of authority, and I intend to sue you if you do not end your contract immediately and remove those indecent posters of my daughter.”
“Calm down, you are very excited. We are civilized people, and we can discuss things without getting hot. You are a state attorney, and you can do us a lot of damage. Still, we also have good lawyers. We would appeal any conviction. After being entangled in endless bureaucratic and judicial lawsuits, the case would go to the Superior Court of Justice. I don't think that would benefit either of us. You want to get your daughter back, and I want to get back the investment. I suppose you find it reasonable. Can you imagine what would happen if we had those losses? Well, our stock price would drop, and our most modest shareholders, families who have entrusted us with their savings to have a decent retirement, would be very upset. Do you know how difficult it is to maintain the profitability of a company like ours? We could pay a year's payroll with what we lose because of piracy, and I'm not talking about third-world salaries! As for her daughter's photograph, I was initially opposed, but my art director's arguments convinced me. What is immoral in young people does not coincide at all with that of our generation? They bathe in top-less, they bathe naked at their beach parties, even some young women dare to go naked in some summer places and only arouse curiosity, but nobody is shocked anymore. Their daughter's photo is cool, as they call it. All that pornography that invades the Internet does not attract their attention; it is consumed by our generation. As for those who accuse us because we manufacture stars, I do not deny it, but if there are no natural idols, we have no choice but to manufacture them because ordinary people need role models. Your daughter was becoming one of those models, and I see nothing reprehensible that an artist who is already a public figure is also a wonderful role model.
Nina's father seemed to be reflecting on the arguments that the director-manager put forward in his defense and had no reason to intervene.
“I was myself,” continued the director manager, “who accepted his daughter to record her songs on our label without the approval of the artistic director, but I didn't do it for his daughter, who I hardly knew, but for giving the young Marc a chance to win his first promotion, because I think Youngman will get very high in this company ...”
“Are you referring to the young man who summers in the same town like you?”
“The same, I hired him, and he has not disappointed me! He brought us your daughter, who he represents. Nina is talented, but many other young artists would do anything to have the same opportunity that your daughter has had. The great Nina's success is not because of her songs, which I do not say are bad. Still, to the magnificent arrangements written by a certain Nano, who is based in London, and according to my English colleagues, they dispute the symphony orchestras to perform solo concerts for guitar by Spanish composers, in which he has specialized, and overall the Adagio of Aranjuez's Concerto.”
Nina's father felt guilty about how wrong he was about Nina's trials in choosing Marc as her agent. After hearing the vision of that generation's morals, he realized that he had judged her with his generation's prejudiced morals.
“I think I will accept the coffee you offered me earlier.”
“They'll bring us right away. I will accompany you with the same drink. Coffee stimulated understanding and shared fosters friendship. Don't you think?”
“Yes, I also think that's the case.”
“You are a prominent member of the State and I of private business, don't you think we should have coffee together more often?”
“Perhaps it would be convenient ...”
“Enterprises are the blood of the State; if it does not flow without obstruction, the State is not in good health, and companies are not too. Today's enormous companies, such as Amazon, Google, or Apple, started out as the one that says in a garage, and the State did not intervene until they were of legal age and able to fend for themselves… Ah, here is the coffee… And going back to the issue for your visit. Under threats of lawsuits, you demand that we release your daughter from her commitments, withdraw the campaign, and suspend the concert without compensation. Does that seem reasonable to you? No, I suppose. I propose a more reasonable agreement: that your daughter sing at the concert; we recover the investment, and the next day we end the contract, don't you think it is more reasonable?”
Nina's father acknowledged that his aggressive initial attitude was no longer justified, and he would have no choice but to accept her proposal.
“I take charge of their situation, the well-being of many families depends on their decisions. I understand that my refusal would have serious repercussions. I can agree, but I don't know if my daughter will accept it ...”
“A state prosecutor? Ask him what the reason for his visit is.”
Moments later, she informed him he was Nina's father and wishes to meet with our lawyer…
“Nina's father, state attorney? I never would have imagined it! The children of state lawyers normally study law, but they are never part of the entertaining business.”
“Okay, tell him that I will come to meet him in a few moments myself.” He ordered his office and withdrew all the reports and other documents and left to meet him.
“Are you Nina's father? It is a pleasure to meet you! But we go to my office, and you tell me what the reason for his pleasant visit is.”
Nina's father was confused because he did not expect to be received with such courtesy; he was sure that they should already know the reason for their visit.
“Here nobody will bother us, do you want to drink something, a beer, a soft drink, or maybe a glass of cognac. I can also offer you a coffee; they will bring it to us in a moment. But take a seat, please, feel at home.”
“No, thanks, I want nothing, but I want to go to the matter that brought me here ...”
“Well, what is that matter? I do not think we have any pending litigation with the State.”
“This is about my daughter, Nina, I think your company has committed a crime of abuse of authority, and I intend to sue you if you do not end your contract immediately and remove those indecent posters of my daughter.”
“Calm down, you are very excited. We are civilized people, and we can discuss things without getting hot. You are a state attorney, and you can do us a lot of damage. Still, we also have good lawyers. We would appeal any conviction. After being entangled in endless bureaucratic and judicial lawsuits, the case would go to the Superior Court of Justice. I don't think that would benefit either of us. You want to get your daughter back, and I want to get back the investment. I suppose you find it reasonable. Can you imagine what would happen if we had those losses? Well, our stock price would drop, and our most modest shareholders, families who have entrusted us with their savings to have a decent retirement, would be very upset. Do you know how difficult it is to maintain the profitability of a company like ours? We could pay a year's payroll with what we lose because of piracy, and I'm not talking about third-world salaries! As for her daughter's photograph, I was initially opposed, but my art director's arguments convinced me. What is immoral in young people does not coincide at all with that of our generation? They bathe in top-less, they bathe naked at their beach parties, even some young women dare to go naked in some summer places and only arouse curiosity, but nobody is shocked anymore. Their daughter's photo is cool, as they call it. All that pornography that invades the Internet does not attract their attention; it is consumed by our generation. As for those who accuse us because we manufacture stars, I do not deny it, but if there are no natural idols, we have no choice but to manufacture them because ordinary people need role models. Your daughter was becoming one of those models, and I see nothing reprehensible that an artist who is already a public figure is also a wonderful role model.
Nina's father seemed to be reflecting on the arguments that the director-manager put forward in his defense and had no reason to intervene.
“I was myself,” continued the director manager, “who accepted his daughter to record her songs on our label without the approval of the artistic director, but I didn't do it for his daughter, who I hardly knew, but for giving the young Marc a chance to win his first promotion, because I think Youngman will get very high in this company ...”
“Are you referring to the young man who summers in the same town like you?”
“The same, I hired him, and he has not disappointed me! He brought us your daughter, who he represents. Nina is talented, but many other young artists would do anything to have the same opportunity that your daughter has had. The great Nina's success is not because of her songs, which I do not say are bad. Still, to the magnificent arrangements written by a certain Nano, who is based in London, and according to my English colleagues, they dispute the symphony orchestras to perform solo concerts for guitar by Spanish composers, in which he has specialized, and overall the Adagio of Aranjuez's Concerto.”
Nina's father felt guilty about how wrong he was about Nina's trials in choosing Marc as her agent. After hearing the vision of that generation's morals, he realized that he had judged her with his generation's prejudiced morals.
“I think I will accept the coffee you offered me earlier.”
“They'll bring us right away. I will accompany you with the same drink. Coffee stimulated understanding and shared fosters friendship. Don't you think?”
“Yes, I also think that's the case.”
“You are a prominent member of the State and I of private business, don't you think we should have coffee together more often?”
“Perhaps it would be convenient ...”
“Enterprises are the blood of the State; if it does not flow without obstruction, the State is not in good health, and companies are not too. Today's enormous companies, such as Amazon, Google, or Apple, started out as the one that says in a garage, and the State did not intervene until they were of legal age and able to fend for themselves… Ah, here is the coffee… And going back to the issue for your visit. Under threats of lawsuits, you demand that we release your daughter from her commitments, withdraw the campaign, and suspend the concert without compensation. Does that seem reasonable to you? No, I suppose. I propose a more reasonable agreement: that your daughter sing at the concert; we recover the investment, and the next day we end the contract, don't you think it is more reasonable?”
Nina's father acknowledged that his aggressive initial attitude was no longer justified, and he would have no choice but to accept her proposal.
“I take charge of their situation, the well-being of many families depends on their decisions. I understand that my refusal would have serious repercussions. I can agree, but I don't know if my daughter will accept it ...”
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