Richard Garriott Moves To Reclaim Ultima Copyright From EA
Because Garriott's use of the statutory termination right puts a 1992 publishing acquisition on the clock, and EA's stated willingness to comply means one of the foundational RPG series could return to its author without a purchase.
Reporting from 1 source: GIGAZINE.
Richard Garriott has begun the process to reclaim the Ultima copyright he transferred to Electronic Arts when EA acquired Origin Systems in 1992. Under Section 203 of the U.S. Copyright Act, a grant can be terminated 35 to 40 years after transfer, and Garriott said he can reclaim the rights in 2027. EA told him it will follow the law and return them.
Garriott sold Origin Systems, and with it Ultima, to EA in 1992 for $30 million. The franchise stayed with EA after Origin was folded into its development division; Garriott left in 2000 after the company froze projects in development.
Section 203 lets an author end a transfer during a five-year window that starts 35 years after the grant. Garriott said no money changes hands and that notice must be filed one year before the effective date. He said he is talking with EA about possible joint Ultima projects, and that reclaiming control means he can re-release the early games and make sequels.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.