Do you suppose that neither the director nor the OSPO is checking which patents relate to the code under consideration, and that neither might reject the request on the basis that it would compromise valuable IP? It would actually be irresponsible for them not to. Given the value of that IP to the company, they have a duty to ensure that it's protected. The fact (if fact it is) that individual engineers don't worry about it means approximately nothing except that they're sheltered little pups.