4DS - Anything but Charting, page-4095

Howard and David were quite firm in their responses regarding the relationship at the AGM … especially the fact that there is no right of refusal in the terms. The one thing that WD do have is the ability to take a licence on the technology for 20 years, no matter who ends up with ownership of it.

They were happy to relate the fact that 4DS and WD have been "courting" for years, and that they expect that a marriage will occur, however they stressed that it would be on 4DS terms.

Having said that, I do wonder what impact the licence would have on a potential buyer, and what the terms of that (prospective) licence are. I guess that's the price of the agreement … WD provide a minute amount of assistance (with respect to their size) and have guaranteed access to the technology at the end (one way or another).