DM is in this thing to make MONEY, and lots of it, one way, ( through settlements), or another through litigation...

And the "period of time question" you raise is already defined...

1) "Settlements" have already started and shall continue. The rate of defendants joining this group is going to increase up to the MARKMAN HEARING DATE scheduled for 2010, and after that, it will grow much faster as only decision for defendants shall be "How much" they should pay to settle, as opposed to facing the risk of a JURY VERDICT...

If you thought 2008 was a good year, wait for end of this year. I bet you a bottle of Michael (what was the last name?) that we will have double digit settlements in 2009...

IMO this all means that 2009 is the TRANSFORMATION YEAR for EDIG, with 2010 being the year EDIG will conclude its plan to take its rightful place in the "evolution" of the Tech industray that started in the 1990's and got derailed for a decade or so...

Gil...