Well, it's related to game theory, but in game theory you're only logical move is the one that gives you the middle result. In this case the options are "pay a fair amount of money now and hopefully never again" or "keep paying small amounts indefinitely", and that for all possible players. You don't come out ahead if you "screw" other players as in game theory and you don't come out further in the hole if another player screws you as in game theory (well, aside from more litigation coming but they have that consequence as well).