You own your game or product, but Epic retains full ownership of Unreal Engine itself. The rights you receive are a license only, not a purchase, and no additional rights are implied beyond what is explicitly stated.
This analysis describes what Unreal Engine's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
Understanding that Unreal Engine is licensed, not purchased, is fundamental to the agreement: Epic can modify, restrict, or terminate your right to use the engine, and you have no ownership claim to the engine technology embedded in your products.
Developers own their creative work but not the engine powering it; Epic's ownership of the Licensed Technology means that changes to the license terms or termination of the agreement can affect how you can use or distribute products built with the engine.
How other platforms handle this
Microsoft reserves the right to restrict the export of data that may compromise the security of the services or Microsoft's intellectual property.
Datadog reserves the right, but does not assume the obligation, to investigate any violation of these Terms or misuse of the Site.
Pharmaceutical products
"As between you and us, you own all rights, other than rights in the Licensed Technology, in the Products you develop under this Agreement, and we own all title, ownership rights, and intellectual property rights in the Licensed Technology. All rights granted to you under this Agreement are granted by the License only and not by sale, and all of those rights are limited by and subject to the terms of this Agreement. No license or other right in any Epic technology or intellectual property rights other than the Licensed Technology is granted under this Agreement, and no license or other rights will be created under this Agreement by implication, estoppel, or otherwise.Excerpt from Unreal Engine's EULA
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Intellectual property ownership provisions in software licenses are governed by copyright law in applicable jurisdictions.
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Understanding that Unreal Engine is licensed, not purchased, is fundamental to the agreement: Epic can modify, restrict, or terminate your right to use the engine, and you have no ownership claim to the engine technology embedded in your products.
Developers own their creative work but not the engine powering it; Epic's ownership of the Licensed Technology means that changes to the license terms or termination of the agreement can affect how you can use or distribute products built with the engine.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 263 platforms. See the full comparison.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Unreal Engine.