One company that settled said they didn't get a sweetheart deal and that they don't believe there was ever a sweetheart deal with anyone.
If there were sweetheart deals, it would be a no-no for Acacia since that would violate some antitrust laws.
These come to mind:
Sherman Anti-trust Act (1890)
Section 1 outlaws contracts and conspiracies in restraint of trade
Clayton Act (1914)
Section 2, amended by Robinson-Patman Act (1936), bans price discrimination that substantially lessens competition
Section 3 prohibits certain practices that might keep other firms from entering an industry or competing with an existing firm
Section 7, amended by the Celler-Kefauver Act (1950), outlaws mergers that substantially lessen competition
Federal Trade Commission Act (1914)
Section 5, amended by the Wheeler-Lea Act (1938), prohibits unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts
If you are a sponsor and you feel that other sponsors got sweetheart deals, you are able to make a complaint at:
https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
Fight the Patent!