4DS - Anything but Charting, page-14668

I think the licencing probability is much higher than people contemplate. If 4DS had no interest in licencing, then WDC would not have an option to do so.

The fact that the option exists makes it, logically, more likely than an outright sale. If you work through the possible scenarios, there are only two where licencing is not a likely outcome:

1. WDC decide they have no further interest in the tech and walk away
2. WDC purchase 4DS outright

All other scenarios involve a second (or more) interested party wanting a piece of 4DS at a price (either licencing or purchase) the BOD cannot refuse. The BOD doesn't have to sell to WDC, but they do have to licence to them at a fair price.

If any scenario arises where WDC want to commercialize the tech, but are unable to purchase (outbid or denied) then they will have to exercise their licencing option.