"Do they have to be? For example....can KRY be purchased by a major without approval of Vz? If so....then who cares what Vz thinks"

Its right in the contract GW that the contract cannot be reassigned, sold or transferd without thier approval. You should know that by now.

Kry is totally worthless as a miner without it so who would buy kry without the involvement of Vz and a few insights a to "what they thought"?