Intellectual Property
Ongoing coverage on Intellectual Property.
Latest coverage
Steam Week in Review: The curious case of Wonder Boy in Monster Land's dubious PC debut
A PC version of Wonder Boy in Monster Land, released on Steam by Retro Maniac, is alleged to be an illegitimate ROM running in an emulator, lacking official licensing from SEGA or LAT Corp. The listing has been flagged for potential copyright infringement and is reportedly being processed for removal, highlighting issues with intellectual property rights and the availability of classic games on modern platforms.
Richard Garriott expands on his comments about getting the copyright back to Ultima in 2027
Richard Garriott is discussing his plans to regain the copyright for the Ultima franchise in 2027, 35 years after selling Origin to Electronic Arts. While he has notified EA and negotiations are underway, EA still owns the trademark. Garriott has not specified his plans for the franchise, and his recent game ventures have had limited success.
Control Resonant composer says studios should avoid 'AI music' and care more about the soundtrack if they 'value and respect your IP and your game' — 'Respect the client: the gamers, the fans, dammit'
Control Resonant composer Petri Alanko urges game studios to prioritize and invest more in their soundtracks, strongly advising against the use of AI-generated music. He emphasizes that valuing music is crucial for respecting intellectual property, the game itself, and the players.
Richard Garriott får tillbaka upphovsrätten till Ultima nästa år
Richard Garriott will regain the copyright to the Ultima series in 2027 due to a US law allowing original creators to reclaim intellectual property 35 years after its transfer. Garriott has notified Electronic Arts, the current owner, and plans to potentially remaster old titles or create new ones.
Richard Garriott får tillbaka Ultima-varumärket nästa år
Richard Garriott is set to regain the rights to the Ultima brand in 2027 due to a U.S. copyright law that allows original owners to reclaim trademarks after 35 years. Electronic Arts, the current owner, is aware of the law and has indicated no opposition. Garriott plans to potentially re-release, remaster, or create new games in the series.
Sony is reportedly plotting to revive classic PlayStation games, starting with a new Ape Escape from the developers behind Sonic Mania
Sony is reportedly planning to revive dormant PlayStation classics, with a new Ape Escape game from Evening Star, the developers behind Sonic Mania, being the first in line. This initiative involves external studios handling legacy intellectual property, similar to how Bandai Namco developed Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots.
Modern Warships Dev Causes Actual Art Storm After Plagiarizing Ship Design
Artstorm, the developer of the naval warfare game Modern Warships, has admitted to using an independent artist's ship design without permission. This admission has caused controversy within the art community.
Fallout New York AI Game Taken Down
An AI-generated Fallout fan game set in New York was taken offline after ZeniMax Media, parent company of Bethesda, issued a cease-and-desist notice. The project, built entirely with AI and playable in a web browser, utilized Fallout's intellectual property, including its name, branding, and game mechanics. This incident highlights the growing tension between AI-assisted game creation and existing intellectual property rights, occurring amidst a broader trend of AI-driven game mash-ups and recreations that are dividing modding communities.
PlayStation Working With 3rd Party Teams To Bring Back Killzone, Ape Escape And Sly Cooper, It’s Claimed
Sony is reportedly working with third-party studios to revive dormant franchises such as Sly Cooper and Killzone. Leaks suggest that licensing for game pitches has been opened, fueling speculation about potential new entries in these beloved series.
For once, I'm happy to see expensive corporate lawyers forcing a fan project offline
Bethesda issued a cease-and-desist order to a creator who developed an AI-generated Fallout game set in New York City. The author expresses satisfaction with this action, contrasting the project with genuine fan mods like Fallout: London and Skyblivion, and criticizes the use of AI and the project's name.
Ape Escape return teased by insider as hopes raised for new Astro Bot game
A reliable insider suggests that Sony Interactive Entertainment is planning a return for the Ape Escape franchise. While the original developer Japan Studio is unlikely to be involved, and Bandai Namco has also been ruled out, the project is reportedly in development. This news comes as anticipation grows for a potential new Astro Bot game from Team Asobi.
Ubisoft renames Creative House 2, home of The Division, Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell, as Massive Entertainment
Ubisoft has renamed its Creative House 2 business unit to Massive Entertainment, consolidating development teams in Toronto, Montreal, Paris, and Sweden under the established brand. This unit will oversee franchises like Tom Clancy's The Division, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell, as well as new original intellectual property. Veteran executive Christoph Hartmann will lead the newly unified Massive Entertainment, aiming to leverage combined expertise for future game development.
AI-Mirror Terraria Raises Huge Questions Over Video Game Code
An AI experiment by engineer Rehan Sheikh, using Anthropic's Claude Opus 5.5, recreated Re-Logic's game Terraria overnight, sparking significant backlash from developers and players. The experiment raises concerns about game ownership, intellectual property, and the implications of AI agents on game development, despite Sheikh stating it was a non-commercial experiment.
Promising New PlayStation 5 RPG Announced by Acclaimed Dev
Monochrome Software, led by Unicorn Overlord director Takafumi Noma, has announced Dawngazer, a new action RPG for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC set for a 2028 release. The game is the first in the new Ignisphere fantasy intellectual property, which will also extend to novels and merchandise.
TinyBuild revenue rises 18% to $20m during H1 2026, with 85% coming from first and second-party owned IP
TinyBuild reported an 18% increase in revenue to $20 million for the first half of 2026, with 85% of that coming from first and second-party owned intellectual property. While gross profit and adjusted EBITDA saw declines due to increased royalty payments and marketing spend, the company remains confident in its pipeline of upcoming games and its strategy of IP ownership and franchise expansion.
'Do not': Rockstar outlines modding rules before GTA VI touches down
Rockstar Games has outlined its modding guidelines ahead of Grand Theft Auto VI's release, emphasizing restrictions on combining IP from different titles and modifying established storylines. The rules, also applicable to Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption II, prohibit unauthorized monetization, including real money gambling, loot boxes, and cryptocurrency, while directing creators to use the official Creator Platform.
Weeks before GTA 6, Rockstar Games imposes new guidelines that restrict mods for missions, maps, updated storylines, and third-party IP
Rockstar Games has updated its modding guidelines, significantly restricting what fans can do with their games, including Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption. The new rules prohibit modifications to official storylines, combining assets from different games, and using third-party intellectual property, suggesting a more restrictive approach for future titles like Grand Theft Auto 6.
Spider-Man co-writer reveals early ideas for Brand New Day and No Way Home included "Home Alone with Kraven"…
Spider-Man: No Way Home co-writer Chris McKenna revealed early script ideas for both that film and the previously planned Spider-Man 4, which eventually became Brand New Day. Concepts included a 'Home Alone with Kraven' scenario and a courtroom comedy where Peter Parker had to sue an imposter using his Spider-Man brand.
Ahead of GTA 6, Rockstar warn modders against against making unofficial main story expansions, unauthorised ports and mods that combine GTA maps
Rockstar Games has updated its modding guidelines, explicitly warning against creating unofficial main story expansions, unauthorized ports, and mods that combine maps from different Grand Theft Auto titles. These new rules, which apply to all Rockstar games but are seen as preparation for Grand Theft Auto 6, aim to protect the company's intellectual property and official continuity.
Hideo Kojima says he was 'shocked' after Sony cut ties with Physint over a Zoom call: 'Nothing could’ve prepared me for their decision to step away from the project'
Hideo Kojima expressed shock and surprise after Sony abruptly canceled their funding for his new game project, Physint, during a Zoom call. After a three-month search, Kojima Productions secured a new publishing deal with Microsoft for Physint, which Kojima plans to develop as a multimedia intellectual property.
