Interplay Entertainment Corporation, publisher of Baldur's Gate and the original Fallout games, purchased the Freespace intellectual property from THQ and Volition for $7,500, according to a court document filed on June 4 (PDF link).

A Copyright Assignment and Quitclaim Agreement, which was also filed on June 4 but became effective May 10, states that THQ and Volition relinquish their rights to the combat space sim IP to Interplay. According to a search on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, Interplay is the current trademark holder for Freespace.

Volition developed Descent: FreeSpace - The Great War in 1998 and its sequel, FreeSpace 2, the following year. Interplay published both games. THQ purchased Volition in 2000, after which the developer went on to create the Red Faction and Saints Row series of games. Koch Media purchased Volition earlier this year after THQ's bankruptcy.

Interplay continues to sell both original Freespace games on sites like GOG.com.