All articles tagged with #ip rights
Double Fine has officially regained ownership of its IP and publishing rights from Microsoft after becoming an independent studio. In a interview with Kinda Funny Games, Tim Schafer explained that the IP transfer is complete (with Microsoft potentially holding some transitional rights) and urged fans to support the studio by purchasing its games, including Psychonauts, Kiln, and Keeper, to help extend its runway.
Double Fine confirms it now owns, or will soon own, the IP and publishing rights to all games it made during its seven-year stint under Xbox, with some titles still temporarily licensed to Xbox as transfers finalize. Tim Schafer said the IP is returning to the studio and the publishing rights will follow, and the company plans to revive its Amnesia Fortnight game jam as a Kickstarter campaign later this year. This comes amid Xbox's broader restructuring and earlier layoffs, signaling a clearer path to independence and future projects.
Empire Interactive has halted plans to revive the 3DO after discovering conflicting ownership claims over the console and its games. Throwback Entertainment reportedly holds the IP for the hardware and software, making any revival unlikely and avoiding costly legal battles.
Atari announced it acquired the rights to Wizardry’s first five games and the underlying IP, with plans for re-releases and multimedia spinoffs, while Drecom says it retains ownership and management of the remaining Wizardry titles and branding; the unusual split creates dual custodians for the venerable RPG and a path toward broader franchise development.
Atari announced it has acquired the complete and exclusive rights to the first five Wizardry games and related IP, with plans to remaster, re-release, and expand the franchise across merchandise, books, comics, and TV/film projects. Wizardry 6–8 are owned by Drecom and not included in the deal, and a 2024 remake by Digital Eclipse has helped revive interest in the original series.
Variety's 2026 Legal Impact Report spotlights Hollywood’s top entertainment lawyers steering AI-driven IP deals, licensing, and cross-border transactions as the industry grapples with consolidation and the creator economy, highlighting cross-disciplinary teams at major firms and boutiques navigating talent, studios, and tech deals amid rapid change.
Atari has acquired the IP rights to five Ubisoft-published games, including Child of Eden, with plans to release and expand them on new platforms, potentially including Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, aiming to revive and evolve these titles.
Dwayne Johnson, also known as The Rock, now owns the intellectual property rights and trademarks to his WWE stage name and a plethora of associated nicknames, catchphrases, and insults, including "Jabroni" and "Candy Ass." This comes as part of a deal with WWE owner TKO Group Holdings, which also granted Johnson a stock award valued at $30 million and the ability to collect royalties from merchandise sales bearing The Rock trademarks.
Remedy Entertainment has acquired all rights to the Control intellectual property from 505 Games, including Control, Condor, and Control 2. The transaction allows Remedy to explore self-publishing or finding a new partner for future Control projects. The maximum purchase price for the transaction is approximately €17 million, and Remedy will pay the net purchase price in three cash instalments over the next twelve months. Remedy CEO Tero Virtala expressed gratitude to 505 Games for their partnership and stated that having complete ownership over the Control franchise gives them the freedom to decide the best path forward.
Remedy has acquired the rights to its hit action game Control, its upcoming sequel, and the multiplayer spin-off Condor from 505 Games for €17 million. 505 Games will continue as the publisher of the original Control until December 31, 2024. Remedy is considering whether to self-publish or find a new publishing partner for the Control titles, and Digital Bros, the owner of 505 Games, is shifting its strategy to focus on fewer titles and owned IP. Remedy CEO Tero Virtala expressed excitement about having complete ownership over the Control franchise and the freedom to decide its future path.
The Pokémon Company has announced a Pokémon Presents event for February 27, teasing "exciting news" in celebration of Pokémon Day 2024, sparking speculation about the next major Pokémon project. Meanwhile, the success of the game Palworld has raised concerns about similarities to Pokémon, prompting investigations into potential infringement of intellectual property rights by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo.