Richard Garriott Wants To Take Ultima Back From EA Using Obscure Legal Quirks
Richard Garriott intends to use Section 203 of the Copyright Act to regain control of the Ultima series. He plans to use this 35-year-old US rule to reclaim the rights by next year. This move could enable him to develop new games in the series.
What changed
New reports identify the specific legal mechanism as a 35-year-old US copyright rule.
Live updates
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Richard Garriott Seeks to Reclaim Ultima Copyrights
confidence 90%Richard Garriott intends to use Section 203 of the Copyright Act to regain control of the Ultima series. He plans to use this 35-year-old US rule to reclaim the rights by next year. This move could enable him to develop new games in the series.
What's confirmed:
- Richard Garriott plans to use Section 203 of the Copyright Act to reclaim the Ultima series copyright.
- Garriott intends to regain the rights by next year.
- The legal maneuver involves a 35-year-old US copyright rule.
Still unconfirmed:
- Garriott will create new games in the series once he regains control.
- Ultima is on the way back to its creator.
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Richard Garriott Plans to Reclaim Ultima Copyright from EA
confidence 80%Ultima creator Richard Garriott claims he can regain the series copyright by next year. He intends to use Section 203 of the Copyright Act to reclaim the rights in 2027. Electronic Arts has recently updated trademarks for the franchise, though no new game is confirmed.
What's confirmed:
- Richard Garriott is the creator of the Ultima series.
- Electronic Arts has updated the trademarks for Ultima.
- EA has not confirmed a new Ultima game.
- Garriott claims he could regain the series copyright by next year.
Still unconfirmed:
- EA may be resurrecting the RPG series from the 1980s and 90s.