Yeah Bitcoin itself can in no way be considered an altcoin, from any perspective. It is the main chain originating from the genesis block. Bitcoin Cash is forked off of the main chain and is running its own version of the blockchain now. Bitcoin cash is the altcoin, Bitcoin is still the original chain with the original consensus rules.
While I can't say Ver getting hit with a lawsuit is a good thing, I do think it could be the only way of showing him it's not cool trying to hijack Bitcoins brand.
core does not use the original consensus rules
try using the original client satoshi-qt-0.1 on bitcoin core network
LEARN definition of FORKS
both core and cash are not the original satoshi invention. they both forked off