1. Public perception of a contentious disagreement where both sides levied serious accusations and reputations may be relevant in future business dealings.
2. Because if they don't want people making up their own theories they'll at least say something in unison other than "we aren't saying anything" as it pertains to Answer #1.
I'm not saying they owe any explanation - I'm just saying if they don't give one then they don't have room to bemoan idle speculation.
> 1. Public perception of a contentious disagreement where both sides levied serious accusations and reputations may be relevant in future business dealings.
That sounds exactly like why they said "we've reached a mutually-agreeable compromise." Now neither party will be negatively affected in future business dealings.
> If they don't want people making up their own theories they'll at least say something
Who cares? They have a billion dollars from General Motors. GM itself is a big enough company that opinions on HN don't matter and won't affect the sales of their final product.
They defused a difficult set of complaints in a mutually-agreeable fashion without involving the courts. That's good business. As outsiders, we are not in any involved with them, and probably shouldn't spend any time caring, except to take away one lesson: talk your differences over and reach an amicable agreement. Don't invent drama when none is required!
Well regarding your perspective I think you've got a contradiction in the reasoning used: Unlike you state, they did involve the courts, at least initially. Settling out of court enabled a level of privacy which, as I was getting at, leaves the mechanics of agreement undisclosed (agreeing to not say anything). As outsiders sure that doesn't mean squat, but, in a larger view, some high profile disputes employ "trial in the court of public opinion" tactics. That seemed relevant in this particular instance, and when it goes unaddressed, it simply - again, as an outsider - leaves an odd impression to me.
What people are saying is nobody really cares about "leaving an odd impression on an outsider". You're acting too serious about something that's really not your business.
I'm a writer so when a story has an inconclusive ending it gives me pause. Maybe you don't feel the same way and that's fine. I was simply commenting in the way I would about any other storyline I watch being played out. Caring is not particularly an accurate term, I'd say more like interest. I'm interested, and thus I've paid attention. I postulate, comment, and move on with life and store the data for later use.
All of your replies read like a bad attempt at prying into how much they paid to get this to go away. I have to agree with the others: it's none of your business, and no spinning of some reputation damage unless they do (?) will change that.
1. Public perception of a contentious disagreement where both sides levied serious accusations and reputations may be relevant in future business dealings.
2. Because if they don't want people making up their own theories they'll at least say something in unison other than "we aren't saying anything" as it pertains to Answer #1.
I'm not saying they owe any explanation - I'm just saying if they don't give one then they don't have room to bemoan idle speculation.