If so, then I see two possibilities here: 1) The IP in question was only reimplementable with Carmack involved, and the lawsuit was basically inevitable. Hirin

If so, then I see two possibilities here: 1) The IP in question was only reimplementable with Carmack involved, and the lawsuit was basically inevitable. Hiring Carmack in this scenario is reasonably perceived as an end-run around buying/licensing the IP itself. 2) The IP could be reproduced clean room without Carmack involved. Lawsuit is easily headed off.