- Richard Garriott has revealed that he intends to take back control over Ultima, the classic RPG series he sold to EA in the '90s.
- Garriott expressed frustration with EA’s stewardship of the series, and said he intends to retake the series as soon as next year.
- An obscure copyright law dictates that the original creator is allowed to reclaim the work after 35 years.
- EA would still retain the trademark to Ultima, meaning Garriott would have to brand any new game distinctively from EA’s property.
- Garriott has attempted to work with EA on a revival of Ultima every decade, but talks have often been abandoned.
- Garriott is honestly hopeful about the prospect of regaining the copyright, which could happen by 2027.
Richard Garriott is set to reclaim the copyright of the Ultima series from EA, a move he anticipates will occur by 2027. This decision stems from a copyright law that allows creators to regain rights after 35 years of assignment.134567
Garriott, who sold his studio, Origin Systems, to EA in 1992, has expressed ongoing frustration with EA's management of the franchise. He stated, “Every decade or so, I tried to work with EA on a revival of Ultima. They always seemed interested enough to start talking, then abandoned talks just as quickly,” highlighting a pattern of unfulfilled collaboration.2
While Garriott will regain copyright, EA will retain the trademark for Ultima, meaning any new game he develops will need to be branded distinctly from EA's offerings. He remains optimistic, declaring, “And so, I have been waiting… finally the time has come!” This legal maneuvering reflects a broader trend in the gaming industry, where original creators seek to reclaim their intellectual properties from larger corporations.
As the timeline approaches, fans of the series are left wondering what a new Ultima game could look like under Garriott's direction, especially given his long-standing connection to the franchise.
“Unless EA on Ultima, then Garriott could regain the copyright for the IP sometime in 2027,” suggests that the future of Ultima may soon be in the hands of its original creator once again.
“Richard Garriott intends to take back control of the Ultima series from EA, citing an obscure copyright law. He expressed hope for a revival after years of abandoned talks with EA.”
Kotaku