Doesn't it seem suspicious that Sony's first defense tactic is to use that technicality rather than present any of the so-called "evidence" that they've claimed to possess (lyric sheets, audio forensic comparisons)?
You're right that there's no direct acknowledgment of guilt, but it still makes no sense as to why that would be their immediate response. It certainly gives off the implication that they know they're backed into a corner and need a way out. Whether or not key players have spoken yet, this certainly shows that Sony has no interest in supporting the Cascio tracks.
Postings like this simply show that, pardon me, many fans (generally speaking) don't know much about court cases and legal proceedings. If my lawyers would not try to dismiss the case THEN it would look suspicious to me and I would want to replace my lawyers. You don't present any evidence at this stage (it's still pre-trial), you're trying to take away the legal basis for a case (that's why they tried anti-SLAPP as well), that's what it's all about.
What their lawyers did made infact perfect sense (for anyone with expertise about the law). What Sony (& the other defendants) has (have) no interest in, is a court case. But this will go to trial for sure, don't worry. It's got nothing to do with them allegedly not supporting the tracks which they will have to once this goes to trial.
You must understand that anyone NOT in the know about the law, would most likely come to (false) conclusions like you did.
You find it suspicious because you could not see it coming
and you could not see it coming because you lack the specific knowledge regarding established law practice.
That's the very same that happened to MJ with the bogus allegations in 1993 and 2003.
As a matter of fact, unfortunately, the general public does hardly understand why and how someone is charged and they suspect you quite fast. For every case you will have people on both sides. When MJ's lawyers recommended him to settle the 1993 case out-of-court, some people concluded an admittance of "guilt". Same here regarding Sony/Estate.
It's a logical issue of society & education: your life time is limited and humans only learn certain things while they have no or little knowledge about other things. If you don't study law, how are you supposed to really understand it?