Z - I think you're getting the terms "Blackout" and  "NDA" mixed up(?)

 From my understanding, NDAs are fairly common in settlments and I believe the J-3 actually were saving face.  It looks a lot better (on many levels) when a PR states that the J-3 and PTSC settled their law suit.  As opposed to "the J-3 settled for $100 million on their infringement law suit with Patriot". 

The Blackout/insider trading restriction is in place simply because the insiders have pertinent info that the rest of the public does not have.  If I know a company collected $100 million and you and the public don't, I clearly have an (unfair) advantage over you - I shouldn't be allowed to trade. 

 The question I can only guess at is:  why is Patriot purposely not marketing their company?  They weren't marketing it long before the NDA.  It seems like they don't mind that the SP is stuck in the mud.