AFAIK, in the case of the AmigaOne, they licensed the design, sourced a manufacturing firm, and coordinated the whole project. Sure, MAI did the design, and whoever it was did the manufacture, but if eyetech hadn't have initiated and coordinated it, the boards would not have been made in the first place. I think they can take SOME credit where this is concerned.
The statement "Eyetech still plan to produce it" is only not true on a minor technicality that only a pedant would care about; they intend to take the design from MAI, and get a subcontractor to manufacture it for them. Maybe he should say "Eyetech still plan to have it produced". If MAI started selling jelly, Eyetech could STILL have it produced if they have the license to the design.
Also, FYI, there is nothing unusual about this. Many millions of items of consumer electronics are manufactured generically and rebadged for sale, but the brand on the front of the box is responsible to QA, warrantee, etc. and as far as the consumer is concerned, their TV/Video/Stereo/whatever was produced by whatever brand is on the front.
Its not a big con, its business. Note that Genesi don't design or make the Pegasos, either. bPlan design it, and DCE make it.