CHAPTER 9 – Legal Troubles
Noah's food stall was thriving.
After winning back his customers, he felt unstoppable.
But one afternoon, he received an unexpected visitor.
A man in a suit and tie approached his stall, holding a folder of documents.
"Are you Noah Quinn?" the man asked.
Noah wiped his hands on a towel and nodded. "Yeah, that's me."
The man smiled, but there was something cold about it.
"I'm here on behalf of Gold Bite Corporation. You're being served a legal notice."
Noah's stomach dropped.
Legal notice?
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The Trademark Violation
Noah took the documents with shaking hands and scanned the contents.
> Cease and Desist Notice
To: Noah Quinn
Your business is illegally using a product name that belongs to Gold Bite Corporation.
You are required to stop selling your products immediately or face legal action.
Noah's head spun.
"What the hell is this?" he muttered.
The man adjusted his glasses.
"You're selling 'Crispy Delight', correct?"
Noah nodded. "Yeah… it's just a name I came up with."
The man shook his head.
"Gold Bite Corporation owns the trademark for 'Crispy Delight.' If you don't change it, we'll sue you for damages."
Noah felt a wave of frustration.
He had worked so hard, and now, a big company was trying to crush him over a name?
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Seeking Advice
That night, Noah sat in his living room, staring at the papers.
His sister, Claire, noticed his troubled expression.
"Why do you look like someone just punched you in the face?" she asked.
Noah sighed and handed her the letter.
Claire read it and her eyes widened.
"Are you serious? They're threatening to sue you?"
Noah nodded. "Apparently, 'Crispy Delight' is a registered trademark."
Claire frowned. "Can they really do this?"
Noah shrugged. "I don't know… but I don't want to risk getting sued."
Claire thought for a moment.
"Why don't you talk to a lawyer?"
Noah hesitated.
Lawyers meant money.
And money was something he barely had.
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Meeting a Lawyer
The next day, Noah visited a small law office in the city.
An old man with gray hair and reading glasses sat behind the desk.
His name was Atty. Miguel Ramos.
"So, you received a cease and desist letter?" the lawyer asked.
Noah handed him the papers.
Atty. Ramos adjusted his glasses and read through the documents carefully.
After a few minutes, he sighed and set them down.
"Well, kid… they're not wrong. 'Crispy Delight' is a registered trademark."
Noah's heart sank.
"So… does that mean I have to shut down?"
The lawyer chuckled. "Not necessarily."
Noah perked up. "What do you mean?"
Atty. Ramos leaned back in his chair.
"They can't shut you down completely. They're only claiming rights to the name. If you change it, you can keep your business running."
Noah exhaled in relief.
"So I just need to change my product's name?"
The lawyer nodded.
"Exactly. But you should also register your new name to avoid this happening again."
Noah nodded, determination returning to his face.
"I'll do it."
---
That night, Noah brainstormed new names.
He needed something unique, something that no big company could claim.
After hours of thinking, he finally settled on:
"Noah's Crunchy Bites."
The next day, he went to the Intellectual Property Office and filed for a trademark.
This time, his business would be protected.
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Gold Bite Corporation's Reaction
A week later, Noah received another letter from Gold Bite Corporation.
But this time, it wasn't a threat.
It was a formal acknowledgment that he had changed his product name.
The letter ended with:
> "We appreciate your cooperation. We wish you success in your business."
Noah smirked.
They thought they could scare him.
But he fought back.
And he won.
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System Notification
> [LEGAL TROUBLE CHALLENGE: SUCCESS]
Reward: +3 Business Acumen, +2 Negotiation Skill
Noah grinned.
This wasn't just a victory, it was a lesson.
From now on, he would protect his business at all costs.
And whatever challenge came next, he would be ready.
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End of Chapter 9
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