Ultima RPG rights back creator reclaims ownership
For decades, the legendary Ultima franchise has resided in a legal limbo, held by Electronic Arts despite its storied history. But for one of its original creators, Richard Garriott, the status of the series is about to undergo a dramatic shift, potentially setting the stage for a seismic reawakening.
The story begins with a foundational move made in 1992 when Garriott sold Origin Systems, the studio he co-founded, along with the rights to the Ultima intellectual property, to EA. While Garriott continued his work at the giant corporation, he spent years directing RPGs and serving as a producer on the immensely popular MMORPG, Ultima Online.
However, the relationship between Garriott and the IP soured. In 1999, EA canceled several of Origin’s in-development projects, partly due to poor reception to titles like Ultima IX: Ascension. This culminated in 2004 when EA shut down Origin, effectively putting the vast history of the franchise under corporate control.
Now, twenty-two years later, Garriott is poised to reclaim his legacy. He is leveraging a peculiar loophole in United States copyright law, which allows original holders to reclaim copyrights after 35 years of assignment. In a recent interview, Garriott explained his plan: he formally notified Electronic Arts in April of this year that he intended to take back the copyrights to Ultima.
The response from EA was understanding, acknowledging the legal reality. Now, Garriott is actively engaged in discussions with the rights holder to determine the future of the property. The outcome is wide open, yet the possibilities are tantalizing.
Whether this ownership shift leads to a simple remaster of the early titles, allowing for a careful update of core systems, or something far grander, the potential is immense. Garriott has the control to steer the series, potentially leading to a new game with his vision at the helm.
The inherent conflict lies in the ownership itself. While Garriott has undeniable influence on the RPG genre, his long career has seen some controversial moves, and the fate of Ultima under the umbrella of EA has arguably been passive. Now, the reins are back to the creator, suggesting that the future of this seminal product line may finally be in the hands of the person who knows its true heart.
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