If I was in google legals, and I knew the cost of going to law for an uncertain outcome, and had already been brought to pay out for less notable cases, I too might suggest this is a cheap buy-out for a one-time problem.

I would also advise, that the shake down would never stop, and this was a $24m down payment for the next 3 years until a change in government (itself uncertain) removed the risk. So, it's not $24m, its $24 for the time being