WD bought out HGST in 2012.
It was the Chinese regulators who insisted that HGST and WD be run as separate entities to begin with. After several years (maybe in 2015) the Chinese authorities relaxed this stance and HGST was slowly incorporated into WD over several years. The ultimate plan was to only ever have WD branded products and IP (not two separate entities) which I think was achieved in 2018.
The JDA with HGST commenced in June 2014 and is now into it's 5th year and has been renewed annually.
The JDA is clearly flagged in the prospectus for when 4DS IPO/RTO.
As for a positive attitude from WD to 4DS the current CEO of WD was previously CEO of HGST. In fact he became CEO of WD 9 months after the HGST takeover in January 2013. That would mean the JDA happened under his brief - it was just via the HGST subsidiary.
WD/HGST have the right to a non exclusive licence.
