anyone can create new network from Graphene under MIT license.
They launched an ERC20 as well as a UIA on BitShares "SMOKE" token, then
They have a testnet live, and will launch mainnet after the ICO. It is a fork of Graphene (the framework behind Steem, Golos, BitShares ... all have open source on GitHub so they may have borrowed pieces from them) then the rest all their own dev. Look similar project going on in China - $YOYO or YOWOW, similar story - create own network and has ERC20+UIA+own chain token already live and fully working in the user wallets. Atomic swap anyone?
So they don't need anything from here - apart from a place to promote it, and Steem as living proof that the technology is working. The point - they've created a completely new network. I don't know your loyalty and alliance to be "Steem Only" or not but do hope this helps explain more ...!