What I think you fail to appreciate, is that any profit that makes the bottom line, must justify investors carrying 400 Mil shares of ownership. The next person in line must anticipate a gain from his purchase before he decides to buy YOUR shares. That said, when you have a wasting asset with a definitive timeline, like these patents do (or oil wells or gold mines, etc), increasingly as you get to the end of that line, the value of the assets which were producing the revenues is zero; the asset's revenue potential has been fully exhausted. So, with a short revenue lifespan, profits and the certainty of their quantifiable distribution must be substantial; otherwise interest in stock resale and sufficient liquidity to support whatever price is desired, will never be reached. It's like musical chairs, what is the stock value to anyone, especially the person holding shares when the Licensing stops ???

Honestly, I have heard speak of this concept before and I do appreciate it as well as find it a difficult reality to acknowledge. On the other hand I was at a SHM when it was softly spoken by the BOD and acknowledged by DL that the issue of patent extension time had been remedied. They would not go into details when asked but all of them (and I saw their faces) were smiling. Others have commented on it as well. It wasn’t just my imagination. So, if what they acknowledged and smiled about is true, then where is the argument for a short revenue lifespan? Of course the patents will end but maybe not as soon as it may seem or you think.