"But my belief is this is about the TPL owned patents"

Yes, me also. And that is the problem.

If a license agreement is finally struck then the value of that is split 50/50. Simple. But what if the negotiator (TPL, in the smoke filled room) agrees to discount the license agreement price in exchange for a little lagniappe… Lan’yap

(a payoff to influence illegal or wrong activity, a bribe or allurement, bait, blackmail, buyoff, compensation, contract, corrupt money, corrupting gift, enticement, envelope*, feedbag, fringe benefit, gift, goody, graft, gratuity, gravy, grease, hush money, ice*, incentive, inducement, influence peddling, kickback, lure, payola, perk*, perquisite, present, price, protection*, remuneration, reward, sop, sweetener, sweetening, take)

In the form of a side deal to buy or license TPL assets, (goods or services; where 100% goes to them alone). Lets see, the math and hypothetical conversation is … ”agreed MMP value is $1,000; but what would you say if that could become $600? How you ask? Simple, just sign this little side agreement with TPL for $200 and your total cost will go down $200 bucks. My, my you just saved 20%!” and PTSC just lost 40% of fair value. ($300 in our pockets rather then the $500 we were entitled to)… And what would be the incentive for this? None to overwhelming, depending on the cash value of TPL's side deal.

That part... The part about "These communications contain specific terms and offers for settling this litigation and also describe confidential proposals for business opportunities between HTC and TPL." just drives me up the wall as it all but says in the classic film noir Cop style “Move on, move on… Nothing to be seen here... Keep it moving…”.