Let's think about what you just said for a second, and while I 100% agree that's the 'rational view' let's look at it from Google's perspective.
1. Google steals technology, we know that, so firstly are they scared of breaking the law? Clearly not.
2. Google changed their business practices, obstructed justice, deleted evidence (all according to their own employee) and you believe the "do no evil" company does no evil? Lol.. the stated "do no evil" is a slight of hand, what better way to pretend you're not evil by using it as your company slogan! Clearly, they believe they are above the law.
3. Larry Page is a megalomaniac and a sociopath. Listen to him speak about Google's role in this world, his part in it, etc. He BELIEVES he is some sort of messiah, again, believes he can't do anything wrong and that laws should be written to allow him to do what he wants to advance society.
4. This is a penny stock with 15% institutional ownership, think anyone, including the sec cares? nope, and hard to prove as well.
5. Any sane hedge fund looks at the risk here and does not short. Look at how PRKR moved on LESS news, further behind in the legal process, less money coming to them, no portfolio, not the same mgmt team, yet our short volume increased and has not moved even with de-risking. The risk for a short here is immense, a smart hedge fund would cover.
6. Why are shorts not scared? I have been trying to figure this out since day 1, with every piece of info that has de-risked this position, why are they still there? Because clearly they fear very little, why fear very little? Because they will be told when to cover. Then you must ask, who can tell them when to cover?
7. What value does it bring to google? well alot
A. It punishes VRNG, and anyone seeking to come after them (even if they lose monetarily, its a deterrant to trolls, wins don't help your pps bc we're google and we'll fight).
B. It holds the pps down and forces VRNG (if ever required) do to a secondary at lower prices (again if required down the road) - punitive.
c. EGO - which is all this is about and the destruction of evidence tells us that.
8. They are not scared of any laws, hell they work with the NSA and CIA you think they don't do what they want?
Lots of rational reasons...
