GoKawiilRichard Garriott to reclaim Ultima IP rights from EA in 2027
Richard Garriott says he will regain ownership of the Ultima series from EA in 2027, using a US copyright provision that lets original rights holders reclaim IP 35 years after selling it, with no payment required. He confirmed he notified EA of his intent in April this year, and the publisher acknowledged the request and said it would comply with the law.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Regaining full control could let Garriott re-release classic Ultima titles or develop new entries without needing EA's approval, potentially reviving interest in a franchise dormant for years. His comment about still possibly working with EA suggests the reclaiming move may be more about leverage and options than a clean break from the publisher.
- Garriott will regain Ultima IP rights from EA in 2027 under US copyright reclamation law
- No payment is required for the transfer; a one-year notice was given to EA in April
- Garriott is weighing options including remasters, new games, or continued collaboration with EA
Source: techspot.com — Alfonso Maruccia, 2026-10-09
Published there as: “Richard Garriott says he's getting the Ultima rights back from EA in 2027”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.