[jacquesm]

It wasn't a complete denial ('code' and 'patents' are not the only work products protected by IP laws and by employment contract terms).

That alone makes me believe this was not vetted by his lawyer unless they specifically wanted to misdirect the opposition. I don't think that's likely, and such misdirection would most likely fail anyway assuming the opposite side is halfway competent.

Making falsifiable claims in public simply does not help.

As for how Zenimax could use this against Carmack, let's not make their lives easier than we have to.