CD Projekt Red agrees to offer extra royalties to The Witcher author
It appears that developer CD Projekt Red has relented to the demands of The Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski, after the latter threatened legal action late last year. Sapkowski claimed that he wasn't given enough compensation for his intellectual property when he gave the rights to CD Projekt Red in order to create a game. The developer fired back, stating that the author was given the chance to have a percentage of the profits, but he believed the games would not sell well, so he took the initial flat fee payment, which was about $9,300. After a few months of discussion, the two entities have come to an agreement, with CD Projekt Red offering an undisclosed amount to Sapkowski to make sure he'll remain on good terms with the company, though it is nowhere near the originally requested $16 million.
In the Company’s opinion the demands expressed in the notice are groundless with regard to their merit as well as the stipulated amount. 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.
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.
Source: (Polish)
Translation via wccftech