The website www.cohtitan.com has a lot of this information about the shutdown and is also spearheading the protest to keep it from happening. Head over there to check out all that is going on.
Specific rumors have been debunked by devs and others.
1. This has nothing to do with licensing so there isnt any sort of licensing issue between Cryptic and NCSoft. As Jack Emmert has stated, Paragon Studios was allowed to use the game engine in perpituity for City of Heroes and for a potential city of heroes 2 game.
2. Sony Online Entertainment has not expressed any interest in the franchise.
3. There are talks between NCSoft and Paragon Studios employees but the community manager for COH urges people not to read anything into this.
Lastly, there is a petition online that will be sent to NCSoft. Yes everyone is aware petitions don't usually do anything but still, it will only take a few moments.
http://www.change.org/petitions/ncsoft-keep-ncsoft-from-shutting-down-city- of-heroes
Also, if you want to see what all the fuss is about City of Heroes is completely free so go out to their main site. na.cityofheroes.com and pick it up. You too can be a superhero!
Thanks for the update.
Thanks for the updates. Some of this was discussed in the other thread, but clarification is always great!