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Richard Garriott Wants To Take Ultima Back From EA Using Obscure Legal Quirks

Ultima creator Richard Garriott is attempting to reclaim the series' copyright from EA as the publisher renews existing trademarks.

By · Published June 20, 2026 at 21:30 UTC · Updated July 6, 2026 at 19:06 UTC

9sources
9articles
7velocity
+0%since first seen
67d agofirst detected

Evidence dossier

Intelligence passport

75/100 Excellent
9distinct sources shown
40velocity measurements
1language editions checked
All brief claims passed the second-source checkbrief evidence status

Measured timeline

  1. Detected The first matching coverage entered the Archynetys cluster.
  2. Evidence threshold reached The story had enough independent coverage for an explanatory brief.
  3. Latest coverage observed Most recent article currently attached to this story cluster.
  4. Peak measured velocity The recorded velocity reached 7.
  5. Outcome review added Archynetys revisited the signal after coverage cooled.

Source diversity sample: TechSpot · 80 Level · ixbt.games · Technetbook · en.softonic.com · Rock Paper Shotgun · Massively Overpowered · VICE.

How this dossier is built: methodology · AI policy · corrections.

📍 How it ended

Richard Garriott claimed he could regain the copyright for the Ultima series by next year using a 35-year-old copyright rule. During this process, Electronic Arts filed and updated Ultima trademarks, though no new game was confirmed.

The story quieted without a definitive conclusion in the coverage.

Epilogue added 51d ago, after coverage quieted.

Answered

Has EA announced a new Ultima game?

According to Softonic, no new game has been confirmed despite the trademark updates.

What is Richard Garriott's goal?

Garriott claims he could regain the copyright for the Ultima series by next year.

What action did EA recently take?

EA renewed the trademarks for the Ultima series.

Where it stands

Electronic Arts has updated the trademarks for the Ultima RPG series, though no new game has been confirmed. Simultaneously, series creator Richard Garriott claims he may be able to regain the copyright to the franchise by next year.

Coverage from Rock Paper Shotgun, Kotaku, and Massively Overpowered emphasizes Garriott's intent to use legal mechanisms to reclaim the series. VICE notes that EA's actions suggest a possible resurrection of the 1980s and 90s RPG series.

Future developments center on whether Garriott successfully regains the copyright next year and if EA confirms a new title following the trademark updates.

Synthesized by Archynetys from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 67d ago.

Coverage (9)

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Topics

Richard Garriott EA Ultima Copyright Law RPG

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