honest opinion is that we need some kind of (legal) contract

A blockchain or decentralized community can not sign a legal contract.

That is a very big part of the reason for on-chain governance systems.

We did not invite Justin here, he came via a side deal between him and Ned. In doing so, he must recognize that a truly decentralized blockchain and community can not be owned and can not be forced to submit to his will by destroying it through centralization.

The path forward is for Justin to embrace the values of the Steem blockchain and community and for the ongoing ecosystem funding to be secured through on-chain governance which Justin ceases to attempt to manipulate through shady underhanded deals with and/or deceit of exchanges.

Once that happens, maybe a positive working relationship can be built or rebuilt between Steem (the blockchain and community) and Steemit (the company which Justin owns and which operates the steemit.com web site and formerly developed the blockchain, but no longer has any developers because Justin's abhorrent and irresponsible behavior drove them all away).