Almost 334 now; it was the first thing I checked after reading that story.

A hostile take over might be cheaper than paying royalties.

So if Google took over the company and settled for paying a massive amount to them, this would in turn force Microsoft to pay 5% of that. Except anything Google paid, would essentially go back to Google. Could you bankrupt Microsoft this way?

No, the judge would alter his ruling because of a Microsoft appeal. Judges are remarkably unimpressed with such attempts to use their rulings like that.

What if Google had bought Vringo after the settlement with MS but before the judges ruling? Then it'd be a private contract?

Sort of the inverse of the Mosaic licensing, where Spyglass got a royalty off of IE revenue, and MS proceeded to give it away for free.

Probably a Microsoft + Google buyout = status quo is a fine thing if it cheapens the bill