[thibs]

Sony are one step ahead as they precisely know what Nikon and Pentax are doing, down to sensor purchase projections/guarantees.

Call me idiot but in this case I guess contracts would prevent the manufacturer (Sony semiconductor) to divulgue any sensors orders to other manufacturers INCLUDING Sony electronics.
Otherwise, it'd be very weird (and unfair btw).

[Unsinkable II]

Call me idiot but in this case I guess contracts would prevent the manufacturer (Sony semiconductor) to divulgue any sensors orders to other manufacturers INCLUDING Sony electronics.
Otherwise, it'd be very weird (and unfair btw).

Good point.

Depends upon the ownership / share structure.

If the sensor division has been spun off from the camera division and Sony camera are a minority shareholder, then yes. I would never advocate blurred lines, but those may exist too.