"Private investigation that does not interfere with the responsibilities of law enforcement is completely legal, of course, albeit local laws depending on the planet may vary. Some may even ban these activities if they so desire, but I cannot recall of any jurisdiction that has enforced such a prohibition"

"We are of the opinion that a decade is not sufficient. Usually, our copyright laws stipulate that the timeframe for the existence of patents is around 25-40 years, with variations on industries and jurisdictions. Patents relating to healthcare are dramatically shorter, at only 5 years. Our companies, both public and private, would feel confused and a tad uncomfortable with the suggested number of years. We suggest a time period of 35 years, although we are open for negotiation and compromise"

Ferul was gambling here. The Stoinians were a younger nation, and their own self-descriptions suggested that their technologies were less advanced overall compared to the Ryccian Empire. If there was to be any technology sharing, the Empire must retain the strategic advantage. If the risk paid off, it would be in the national interest.