EA Files New Ultima Trademarks as Richard Garriott Prepares for 2027 Rights Reversion

Richard Garriott, the legendary creator of the Ultima series, is moving to reclaim the copyrights to his seminal role-playing franchise from Electronic Arts (EA). Garriott is reportedly leveraging Section 203 of the U.S. Copyright Act, a provision that allows creators to terminate copyright transfers after a period of 35 years.

The timeline for this reclamation aligns with EA’s acquisition of Garriott’s former company, Origin Systems, which was purchased in September 1992 for approximately $30 million to $35 million in stock. Under the 35-year rule, Garriott formally served notice to EA in April 2026 regarding his intent to terminate the original grant of rights. This legal mechanism is specifically designed to allow creators a “second bite of the apple” for intellectual property that may have significantly increased in value since its initial sale.

The transition involves a complex legal split between creative copyrights and commercial trademarks.

The Copyright vs. Trademark Split

While Garriott seeks to regain the copyrights—which cover the code, characters, and specific creative content of the games—the path to a full revival is complicated by trademark law. Unlike copyrights, trademarks do not automatically revert under Section 203. Electronic Arts has already signaled its intent to protect its branding; records show the publisher filed two new trademark applications for “Ultima” in June 2026, specifically covering downloadable and online games.

This creates a potential legal stalemate where Garriott might own the creative history of the franchise, but EA retains the exclusive right to use the “Ultima” name in commerce. To navigate these restrictions, Garriott has reportedly considered using titles such as “Lord British’s Ultima” for future projects, leaning on his personal brand and the “Lord British” pseudonym which he has long maintained.

AI and Future Development

At Dragon Con 2026, Garriott provided a glimpse into how a modernized version of his world-building might look. During a presentation, he discussed using generative AI tools, including “ethically trained” models and ChatGPT, to assist with language creation and NPC interactions in potential future development. This suggests that any revival would focus heavily on the systemic “living world” elements that originally defined the series.

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