Well in the case of SEGA they just said "Hey we like your work keep it up!" to a fan project, which from what i've read is what the creators said to you but...yeah. Well anyways i'm glad to know that the project is alive, but if it does get completed..due to your previous warning..How could you release it without getting sued...Excuse me if there's a way around it i'm not well versed in the copyright/ Intellectual Property Laws.
*I* couldn't release it. But you never quite know what might leak out without my knowledge or consent.