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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 • • technology
Key Points:
- EA recently filed new trademarks for the Ultima series, sparking renewed interest in the long-dormant franchise.
- Ultima creator Richard "Lord British" Garriott has been attempting to revive the series for years but talks with EA have repeatedly fallen through.
- In 2027, Garriott plans to reclaim the copyright of Ultima under U.S. law, which allows creators to regain rights 35 years after initial acquisition; EA acquired the rights in 1992.
- While Garriott can regain the copyright, EA will still own the Ultima trademark, meaning any future projects might need a different branding, such as "Lord British's Ultima."
- Garriott is expected to share more details about his plans at Dragon Con later this year, hinting at potential new Ultima-related projects in the near future.
