I'll tell you what! If it comes to light that ORSoC is truly behind this project, but opted for starting some other entity, namely, KNCMiner, to further development via distancing themselves, then that would not bode well, for it would have been best for ORSoC to come forward and declare their intent at the onset, unless I'm missing something as to why they can't do that.
http://www.idg.se/2.1085/1.229007/oppen-kallkod-for-kretsar-blir-nasta-linux (translated to English, then I broke up the large paragraph)
The hårdvarukod which is used to determine how a circuit works is becoming increasingly complex. This has led to a desire for open source even in this area, according to Marcus Erlandsson, one of the men behind the open source site OpenCores. - It has no longer afford to self-invent the wheel time and again. It all works just like Linux. Those who outsource their code gets help from all over the world with verification and verifying may use the code. It's a win-win situation, he says. Marcus Erlandsson is technical manager at Swedish ORSoC, a consulting firm that develops electronics. After a year and a half, the company owns OpenCores. - We have been working towards this site since it started in 1999. When the founders wanted to hand over to a company that had the right mindset, that is open source, we had the honor to buy the site of them.
How do you earn money with it?
- We have two hats. First, we use projects on the Open Core and picks code from them, and we run the Open Core for it to become the hardware equivalent of Linux. We have also opened OpenCores too little advertising, but it is marginal. Marcus Erlandsson believes that the fair value of the site for ORSoC located in the pr company gets. - Everyone in this area knows that we own the site and are experts in this technology . We are contacted by the world's largest companies, and that's pretty special for a small Swedish company.
Companies do it all the time. Like kfc taco bell ect all owned by yum brands. Maybe if they fail their brand won't be tarnished, but failing doesnt mean scam, such as Basic refunding people. All and all this is wild speculation, someone can contsct OR and ask if they have any ownership stake or how the partnership came to be.
Until then i would just wait for more info