It's a bit like the old (apocryphal, all the famous people who supposedly said this almost certainly didn't) joke: "GROUCHO (to woman seated next to him at an

It's a bit like the old (apocryphal, all the famous people who supposedly said this almost certainly didn't) joke: "GROUCHO (to woman seated next to him at an elegant dinner party): Would you sleep with me for ten million dollars? WOMAN (giggles and responds): Oh, Groucho, of course I would. GROUCHO; How about doing it for fifteen dollars? WOMAN (indignant): Why, what do you think I am? GROUCHO: That’s already been established. Now we’re just haggling about the price." The CEO of Hooked has presumably learned a valuable lesson about treating engineers like cattle. I've never heard of this kind of "partial acquihire" and it seems outlandish that she expected things to go her way in court.