The reason they did it is ego and is why they continue to fight against Legacy (Vanilla) servers. If they allow or provide these types of server environments, they are admitting that their current version of the game isn't good or that they have gone astray.
They can grant anyone a license to use their IP. That reasoning was the most terrible bit of PR bullshit lies ever spewed. They control their IP, they can tell people they can use it and it doesn't damage their control at all. They even have the paperwork to allow Chinese companies run the game, I am sure some simple modifications would have been enough to make it work for the Nostalrius team.
Re:
They don't need to license the code, they just need to license their IP usage to the Nostalrius team.
Ego
The reason they did it is ego and is why they continue to fight against Legacy (Vanilla) servers. If they allow or provide these types of server environments, they are admitting that their current version of the game isn't good or that they have gone astray.
They can grant anyone a license to use their IP. That reasoning was the most terrible bit of PR bullshit lies ever spewed. They control their IP, they can tell people they can use it and it doesn't damage their control at all. They even have the paperwork to allow Chinese companies run the game, I am sure some simple modifications would have been enough to make it work for the Nostalrius team.
What?
Explain to me how the act of not watching something can come up as a court case related to copyright infringement?
(I know, there is all sorts of legal mumbo jumbo, it just sounds like insanity when you look at it)