The Author of The Witcher Novels Wants CD Projekt S.A. To Pay Royalties
Correction (10/24/2018): This “The Witcher” article originally & incorrectly mixed up developer CD Projekt Red with its publisher CD Projekt S.A. The article has been edited with this correction in mind.
Original Story:
The author of The Witcher novels has recently demanded royalty payments amounting to at least 60,000,000.00 Polish zlotys (which is over $16 million) from the publisher of the game series, CD Projekt S.A. However, the publisher has refused to do so, claiming that these demands are “groundless”.
The author of the novels, Andrzej Sapkowski, originally made an agreement with CD Projekt S.A. that allowed them to make games based off his work but the agreement paid him a single cash payment for the rights of The Witcher instead of paying him royalties for the games.
Now Sapkowski is arguing in his complaint that “the compensation remitted to the author is too low given the benefits obtained in association with the use of that author’s work.” If his demands aren’t negotiated in a meeting by October 19th then he’ll proceed to take CD Projekt S.A. to court.
Unfortunately for Sapkowski, CD Projekt S.A. doesn’t see things the same way.
“In the Company’s opinion the demands expressed in the notice are groundless with regard to their merit as well as the stipulated amount,” part of their official response to the complaint reads. “The Company had legitimately and legally acquired copyright to Mr. Andrzej Sapkowski’s work, i.a. 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.”
That said, the developer is willing to negotiate with Sapkowski, saying that, “It is the Company’s will to maintain good relations with authors of works which have inspired CD PROJEKT RED’s own creations. 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.”
What do you think of all this? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.