It's not quite the secretary problem, but he does have the option to wait N years and see if someone else comes up with a technique, or if the technique eventua

It's not quite the secretary problem, but he does have the option to wait N years and see if someone else comes up with a technique, or if the technique eventually leaks. Waiting 9 more years to unlock the drive for free versus taking 50% now is equivalent to investing at 8% annual returns.