You'll have to read the Times profile for the full story, but whether or not NTP acted ethically (or illegally), or preyed on Goodfellow's disdain for patents or his free-market attitude isn't exactly making the bad taste in our mouths from the settlement taste any better.

ENGADGET: Geoff Goodfellow, early inventor of wireless email, profiled

Compulsory bad taste isn't a good cultural sign either.

WSJ: Christopher Hitchens on Forced Merriment, the True Spirit of Christmas

You certainly don't want to put them in danger because of something they thought was humorous, but really is in bad taste this year.

CNN: Kate Kelly: Halloween safety