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How, and why, do these things get leaked? Is it in either Zynga's or Whereoscope's interest to get a little PR before a sale? In other words, is this sort of thing strategic, or a lack of discipline on one party's part?

Whatever the case, congratulations to both sides if this comes true.

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One vector is that investors and lawyers talk. It's hard to move millions of dollars around quietly. Once I was visiting the office of a company in acquisition negotiations. The office phone was ringing off the hook with personal wealth managers cold-calling the employees by name.

Generally not in either party's interest to leak (unless it's a negotiation tactic). But unfortunately when you are closing a sale there are a bunch of people you have to talk to (investors, lawyers, accountants etc) and it only takes one person with questionable scruples to email techcrunch.

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