That is just misleading rhetorics:
- when some genre become more popular other devs and publishers always use this opportunity to create something similar. Its common thing in the industry. They are also commonly inspired by each other.
- Vice versa is true too. Stardock uses old successfull work of F+R to create something similar. And its ok again. But Stardock is too hypocritical to admit it.
- Stardock KNEW that F+R want to return to SC.
- Stardock didnt pay that much money in the auction compared to other IPs and there was no expensive PR campaign. In fact Stardock designed the game for old fans - it was understandable and easy to attract this crowd. But F+P can do the same. They dont really need PR of Stardock. To suggest that Stardock invest a lot and F+P somehow exploited them is again half-truth at best.
- F+R announced their game on 25th anniversary of the release of Star Control 2. Stardock uses that date for some announcement too. So nothing shady here. It is understandable and ok for both parties.
BTW According to F+R initially it looked like both parties will settle on. They did some things to respect each other. But then Stardock came with the claim that they own everything, every right for SC content and F+R are not original creators and they started to fill copyrights for every alien race etc. Why so suddenly now? That is what I called "Lawyer Control". I dont know what happened at Stardock, but I have theory that Stardock lawyers convinced Wardell that they are stronger and using aggressive methods they can intimidate F+P and make them to get better settlement (better for Stardock). It was stupid decision.
Now it seems that Stardock is in even bigger trouble, look here:
www.polygon.com/2019/1/3/18167140/star-control-origins-creators-dmca-stardock