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Richard Garriott has announced that he is nearing the recovery of the Ultima intellectual property rights. Citing Section 203 of the United States Copyright Act, which allows original creators to reclaim rights 35 years after a sale, Garriott confirmed he is set to regain control shortly.
The designer originally sold Origin to Electronic Arts in 1992 for 30 million dollars. While the franchise is recognized as a pioneer in fantasy RPG mechanics, including world-building and exploration, Electronic Arts ceased operations related to Origin in 2000.
Garriott notified Electronic Arts of his intent to reclaim the rights in April of this year. The publisher acknowledged the legal requirement and confirmed they would act accordingly. Garriott noted that no money is involved in this specific reclamation process.
Future possibilities for the series remain open, as Garriott and Electronic Arts are currently discussing potential collaborations. Although a main entry has not been released since 1999, Garriott has not ruled out the development of a new sequel.
