Published , by Brittany Vincent
Published , by Brittany Vincent
If you were sorely missing Star Control: Origins on GOG and Steam, you'll find that the game has been returned to both storefronts as of today. You can now go and purchase it or download the game again as you see fit.
The game was originally removed from both platforms due to a DMCA takedown by Paul Reiche III and Fred Ford, both who claim to own ideas found in Star Control: Origins. The reason they filed the DMCA in the first place was because they believe Star Control: Origins is violating copyrights on mechanics found in Star Control II, which they designed around 25 years ago.
Originally, Stardock acquired the Star Control franchise from Atari in 2013, including all trademark rights to the series, and registered copyrights for Star Control 3, and as Stardock explains it, Reiche and Ford do not have the rights to their creations. Stardock discussed the situation with both Valve and GOG, and as a result the game was restored on both platforms once more.
"We believe that gamers, developers and all those who believe in free artistic expression can see the potential harm self-evident in the claims Reiche and Ford are attempting to make here. The ultimate ends of such claims could potentially be disastrous for anyone wishing to make such games and not something we accept as a matter of course," wrote Stardock on its official blog.
The game is on sale and can be purchased now, and while Stardock is still involved with ongoing litigation, as the blog post states, you can pick up a copy now if you so choose.
"Thanks to the timely review of the situation by our partners at GOG and Valve, and taking the exceptional step in placing our game back for sale, despite ongoing litigation, we have been able to avoid having to lay off employees assigned to the project," said Stardock.
Star Control: Origins is available on PC.