My apologies for mis-quoting your statement, but (almost surprisingly) the content of my response still applies. Bottom of food chain vs. small fish in the pond - I guess mine excludes the ameba. Same gist, really. It wasn't my intent to twist your words, I just should have taken the effort to copy and paste it.

Yes, we are at the bottom of the food chain, and have little to no influence on any of the factors involved in this, or any, investment (see the list in my post). Can we agree that this is just the way it is?

And it's the same in an financial endeavor. If you work for someone/some corporation, how much control do you have over your destiny, or financial reward for effort expended? Any? And if you own your own business, how much control do you have over your market?, your competition?, your employees? Can't handle the unknowns, the risk? Then you quit, right? An with an investment, you divest (I'm NOT suggesting you do this).

Is there ever a time in investing/working where someone isn't reaping a perceived greater reward for your risk/effort?

While the company owes us a bit more specific plan for the future, we owe the company the time to formulate that plan under the new leadership, and, at this moment, to know the full results of the Markmen success (since that will be the main determinent of the company plan going forward). Complaining about things that EVERYONE ALREADY KNOWS at this point in time is either way too late or very premature.

As for your suggestion that the company should disclose the discrete numbers associated with each licensee, either when it happens or later, I hope you have reconsidered. We KNOW they accepted low dollar settlements in the past - they (TPL) have advertised the early mover discount. Why provide, on a platter, an effective negotiation argument to the people sitting across the table? Do you play poker by showing your opponents all your cards during play?

Beyond that, how willing are the licensees to allow us to advertise their settlement amount? Early movers came in for a reason, to get a discount over what they may later have to pay and, much more importantly, so theat they will have to pay less than their competition - putting them at an instant advantage. They too have an expectation that licensing fees will increase fairly dramatically, and this is also why we hear that past licensees are actually helping TPL identify infringers (their competitors). If there's any way licensees can avoid disclosure, they will.

I appreciate your position - cautiously optimistic. I put myself in the same camp, although I'm probably more forgiving regarding past company mis-steps (besides, it's water under the bridge) and I'm probably a bit (lot?) more optimistic.

So let's just see what the full results of the Markman success are, and what Turley has in mind and does. Right now I'm confident we'll both be happy with what's coming.... Again, my only real problems with your post is the timing of the complaints, and what I think is ignoring some business realities (re: disclosing numbers).

SGE