itsinthebag: i don't hold seo, don't set out to deramp, read the thread out of interest, believe that seo has potential (but needs to do certain things) and do hold bprg
fwiw i will give you one view (having stated the above). i agree that what you say is one factor for people not buying seo at present, particularly as we approach the appeal hearing. i think costs alone could be substantial for seo.
the obvious (and i believe positive) way for seo to deal with the situation would be to do an out of court deal and get bprg to compromise on damages in return for all of the intellectual property. however, time is seriously running out on that option and i am not sure bprg would not do the deal (i think they would have done it but the closer we get to the appeals the less like i think it is).
i think that the market wants to see seo focused on its core business (which is now greenseal), wants to see seo start to make real progress with that and wants to see seo avoid trying to be a jack of all trades. thus settling the cc would actually help bring about that. in contrast continuing and losing the cc would raise serious questions about seo.
settling the cc would, imo, remove a barrier to many people considering seo as an investment