So, this will get lengthy so might want to pull up a chair:
Harmony Gold has a LONG history being rather litigious with its "ownership" of the Robotech brand and the 3 anime series that compose it. Well, that might be changing....
Long story short:
HG filed suit against Piranha Games (Mechwarrior Online) , Catalyst Game Labs (Battletech RPG core license), Harebrained Schemes (Battletech PC game, licensed from CGL), and Jordan Weisman (founder/owner of HBS, involved in original case between Harmony Gold and FASA) over infringements on its rights to the Macross mechanic concepts which formed the foundation for early Battletech designs. In this instance, they are arguing on infringement caused by the "Reseen" redesigns of the original Japanese mecha designs. And for some reason, have NOW started going after designs like Atlus which was created by FASA themselves (comparing the Atlus to the Armored Valkyrie is REALLY reaching), in addition to several other designs originating from FASA, like the Hunchback. They did this several weeks ago.
Leonard French's read on the docket:
However, just last week, an Arbitration was awarded detailing the exact situation between Harmony Gold and Tatsunoko concerning Robotech and the original series. It's a doozy:
AND the short (too late) version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoMs6iYXyng&t=302s
So...to sum up...on March 14, 2021, Harmony Gold's rights to Robotech, Macross and everything else from Tatsunoko reverts back to the Japanese company, who has full authority to do whatever they want, it seems. Until then, HG retain full rights to exploit all assets and materials they have, EXCLUDING 41 graphic designs from Big West. And reportedly, among those 41 designs are mecha designs Harmony Gold are filing infringement on behalf of in the Battletech case.
Wow, what a mess of a rights case, but it DOES seems that Harmony Gold's grasp on Macross in the US might finally be coming to an end. I think? Depending on how an appeal might go?