If he bought the debt....wouldn't then allow him to buy the patents directly from Neomedia if that's what he was after? There would no longer be a "lien" on them from YA
The patents haven't been able to be monotized by NEOM to any great extent...I would guess Laura would rather be rid of the debt and YA and be able to to focus on selling campaigns, not litigating patent infringement lawsuits.
The Doc has no desire in my opinion to own Neomedia as a business, but the IP is where his value is and Neomedias has not been.