Notably, Tesla countered by upping the offer but keeping the gag provisions. It was only when it was clear author wouldn't budge that they folded on those claus

Notably, Tesla countered by upping the offer but keeping the gag provisions. It was only when it was clear author wouldn't budge that they folded on those clauses. His conclusion was they really wanted to avoid the legal precedent (and attendant headlines). Tesla knows those crows will eventually come home to roost and the longer they can put it off the more they'll mitigate the blowback.