Richard Garriott Wants To Take Ultima Back From EA Using Obscure Legal Quirks
Ultima creator Richard Garriott is attempting to reclaim the series' copyright from EA as the publisher renews existing trademarks.
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📍 How it ended
Richard Garriott claimed he could regain the copyright for the Ultima series by next year using a 35-year-old copyright rule. During this process, Electronic Arts filed and updated Ultima trademarks, though no new game was confirmed.
The story quieted without a definitive conclusion in the coverage.
Epilogue added 5d ago, after coverage quieted.
The brief
Electronic Arts has updated the trademarks for the Ultima RPG series, though no new game has been confirmed. Simultaneously, series creator Richard Garriott claims he may be able to regain the copyright to the franchise by next year.
Coverage from Rock Paper Shotgun, Kotaku, and Massively Overpowered emphasizes Garriott's intent to use legal mechanisms to reclaim the series. VICE notes that EA's actions suggest a possible resurrection of the 1980s and 90s RPG series.
Future developments center on whether Garriott successfully regains the copyright next year and if EA confirms a new title following the trademark updates.
Synthesized by Archynetys from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 21d ago.
Quick answers
Has EA announced a new Ultima game?
According to Softonic, no new game has been confirmed despite the trademark updates.
What is Richard Garriott's goal?
Garriott claims he could regain the copyright for the Ultima series by next year.
What action did EA recently take?
EA renewed the trademarks for the Ultima series.
Coverage (9)
- A 35-year-old copyright rule could let Ultima's creator make a new game EA can't stop TechSpot · 21d ago
- Ultima Creator Is Reportedly Planning to Take Series Rights Back from EA 80 Level · 21d ago
- Electronic Arts May Lose Iconic Franchise That Inspired Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity Creators ixbt.games · 21d ago
- Electronic Arts Files Ultima Trademarks as Richard Garriott Prepares Legal IP Reclaim Technetbook · 21d ago
- EA updates Ultima trademarks: still no new game confirmed en.softonic.com · 21d ago
- As EA appear to renew the trademark for Ultima, its creator lies in wait to reclaim the game's copyright next year Rock Paper Shotgun · 21d ago
- Ultima creator Richard Garriott now claims he could regain the series’ copyright by next year Massively Overpowered · 21d ago
- EA May Be Resurrecting Beloved 1980s and 90s RPG Series VICE · 21d ago
- Richard Garriott Wants To Take Ultima Back From EA Using Obscure Legal Quirks Kotaku · 21d ago
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