The university removed all of them from the research group and said they could continue working on the data because it belongs to the university.
3 months later:
- investigations of scientific fraud against the people leaving (neglecting authorship because the data could after all not be used and the head wanted a say in the articles, i.e., change them completely). Also some random other allegations that didn't stick.
- police investigation of defamation (because they reported the scientific misconduct and some other misleading statements used by the head in sales for a research-related product)
- the university now expects them to contact the head of the ex-research group to clarify questions of authorship
- the head meanwhile continues as before