I think there are different leves of PR - Total PR Shutdown, Conservative PR, Moderate PR, Agressive PR and P&D PR (email spamming etc.).

I believe Patriot is in PR Shutdown Mode. My guess is that TPL is ordering this due to the current legal conflict tied to their strategy- I could be all wrong. I do think they could do "some" PR without looking like a P&D but maybe they don't want to take any chances before the Markman or trial. I do think we'll see a settlement from the remaing partys before the Markman. They will look pretty stupid if everyone settled for pennys and they get hammered- JMO.