why can't they just dump Harmony Gold?
this is the worst news ever as it just means more revenue for Harmony Gold
Outside of Japam, Harmony Gold has exclusive distribution rights.
Before Big West bought the IP, Tatsunoko (who had distribution rights at the time) signed the 'Robotech' deal with HG. Tatsunoko has signed a similar agreement with Fasa to use the mecha likeness with Fasa. This is why you see Macross mecha in those earliest editions.
Harmony Gold argued that Fasa shouldn't be allowed to use the designs, citing domain and rather than get into a legal battle over likeness, Fasa changed the designs. Once Fasa had given up the fight, and wisely so because it would have just been a money pit and they were more concerned about their own brand anyway, HG had no opposition UNTIL Big West.
Big West had a few deals with HG. That's how Macross Plus came stateside. But they weren't happy with having to give HG any of the proceeds, since they had nothing to do with the productions. Releasing the products overseas was a way to boost profits and they hadn't signed a similar deal with HG. They argued that HG didn't have any right or entitlements to productions post thenTatsunomo/HG deal.
They went to court over it in Japan and Big West lost, citing that the rights were for the Macross trademark globally and that Big West was infringing on HG's licensing rights outside of Japan.
Two years ago, I believe, the license was up and everyone expected Big West to finally be free of a contract they never signed. Only...Tatsunoko renewed for another 35 years at practically the 11th hour.
So Big West had to make a choice. Continue to exist in a small market when so many other anime series are benefitting from internatoinal revenue streams or get their product out into the world where they would, mathematically, make more money. More money means new productions, more licensing and, most importantly, avoiding the irrelevance of Macross as an IP. What good is this IP if it just starves to the point where it is withered and no one cares? It"s an attrition war they couldn't win.
So they played ball.
The end.