Ep 9. Binding Arbitration

The ninth episode of Silicon Valley's second season is titled "Binding Arbitration." In this episode, Pied Piper finds itself in a tough spot when they are sued for copyright infringement by a company called Hooli. Despite their efforts to fight the case, things get complicated when the judge orders both parties to enter arbitration.

As Richard and the team prepare to take on Hooli's team of lawyers in arbitration, they realize that the deck is stacked against them. Hooli has a team of top-notch lawyers and Richard and his team can hardly afford to pay their legal fees. To make matters worse, the arbitrator assigned to the case is notoriously biased and has a history of ruling in favor of big corporations.

Meanwhile, Jared finds himself in a sticky situation when he is forced to testify against his former boss Gavin Belson. Gavin, who founded Hooli, is the one who filed the lawsuit against Pied Piper. Jared is torn between his loyalty to Pied Piper and his loyalty to the man who once gave him a job.

As the arbitration begins, Richard and his team try their best to plead their case. They argue that they did not intentionally steal Hooli's intellectual property and that any similarities between Pied Piper's software and Hooli's software were purely coincidental. However, Hooli's lawyers are ruthless and are able to poke several holes in Pied Piper's defense.

Just when it seems like Pied Piper is going to lose the case, Richard comes up with a brilliant idea. He proposes that they settle the case through a binding arbitration, in which the arbitrator's decision is final and cannot be appealed. This is a risky move, as they are essentially putting the fate of their company in the hands of one person, but Richard believes it is their best shot at winning the case.

The arbitrator takes his time deliberating, and tensions run high as Richard and the team wait for his decision. In the end, the arbitrator delivers a shocking ruling that leaves both Pied Piper and Hooli stunned.

Overall, "Binding Arbitration" is an intense and suspenseful episode that showcases the high stakes of the tech world. It also highlights the importance of strategy and quick thinking when dealing with legal matters.