The Witcher books creator Andrzej Sapkowski has demanded CD Projekt RED additional $16 million for rights, claiming that the ones he sold originally were meant to cover the first game alone and not its sequels.
The Witcher books creator Andrzej Sapkowski has demanded CD Projekt RED additional $16 million for rights, claiming that the ones he sold originally were meant to cover the first game alone and not its sequels.
Back in the days, Sapkowski’s books were not that popular outside of Poland and CDPR was a very young dev team, so the rights were sold at an undisclosed but very cheap price, without knowing that it would turn out being one of the biggest franchises around in a few years.
CD Projekt RED doesn’t believe it is required to pay more on top of what it has already offered, as part of the original deal, but is willing to reach an agreement so that it can remain in a good relationship with the author.
“In the Company’s opinion the demands expressed in the notice are groundless with regard to their merit as well as the stipulated amount,” said CD Projekt.
“The Company had legitimately and legally acquired copyright to Mr. Andrzej Sapkowski’s work, insofar as is required for its use in games developed by the Company. All liabilities payable by the Company in association therewith have been properly discharged.”
“It is the Company’s will to maintain good relations with authors of works which have inspired CD PROJEKT RED’s own creations,” added CD Projekt.
“Consequently, the Board will go to great lengths to ensure amicable resolution of this dispute; however, any such resolution must be respectful of previously expressed intents of both parties, as well as existing contracts.”
Unfortunately, it looks like Sapkowski and his team of lawyers is not willing to cease the cause and will apparently go forward into it, in the effort to get the amount requested.
Hopefully this doesn’t harm the franchise and doesn’t prevent more games inspired to The Witcher universe to be released in the future.
Source: VG247.com
