Judges cleared Intrepid Studios' founders—Stephen Sharif and John Moore—of the embezzlement charges. Sharif has called the suit a smokescreen for an intentional bankruptcy pushed by a board led by Robert Dawson. The defense alleges opponents tampered with reports and spun media coverage to improperly seize rights to Ashes of Creation. Although the case against the creators was dismissed, Sharif's counter fed. suit (Sharif v. investors) remains active; he plans to press alleged investor-fraud claims and to try to reclaim the decade-long project.