Witcher author CD project and license fees argue with new agreement

Andrzej Sapkowski, author of The Witcher novel series, and CD Projekt Red, developer of The Witcher video game series, have signed a new license agreement. The announcement comes more than a year after Sapkowski publicly claimed more than $ 16 million in license fees. Terms of the agreement have not been released.

The story begins with a rare interview with withdrawn Sapkowski, granted in 2017. In this insightful conversation, the author said that CD Projekt, when he contacted him about The Witcher, a video game released in 2008, had completely dismissed the industry.

“I was stupid enough to sell them rights [to all my novels],” he told Eurogamer. “You offered me a percentage of your profit. I said, “No, there will be no profit at all – give me all my money now! The whole lot. “It was stupid. I was stupid enough to leave everything in their hands because I didn’t believe in their success. But who could have predicted their success? I couldn’t.”

A little more than a year later, however, Sapkowski had concerns. In a bold letter to CD Projekt published in October 2018, he claimed that he was wrongly underpaid for his work under Polish law. His claim for compensation from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt alone amounted to more than $ 16.11 million in royalties. At the time, CD Projekt wrote to its investors in an official statement that its claims were “unfounded.”

“The company had lawfully and lawfully acquired the copyright to Mr. Andrzej Sapkowski’s work,” CD Projekt said, “insofar as this is necessary for use in games developed by the company. All liabilities payable by the company in connection therewith have been properly paid. “

Nevertheless, CD Projekt has left the door to negotiations open.

“It is the company’s will to maintain good relationships with authors of works that have inspired CD Projekt Red’s own creations,” the same statement said. “As a result, the Board will go to great lengths to ensure that this dispute is resolved amicably. However, such a solution must take into account both parties’ intentions previously expressed and existing contracts. “

In a press release released today, CD Projekt and Sapkowski announced that they have “signed an agreement to further strengthen their relationship”. This new agreement, it goes on to say, “fulfills and clarifies the needs and expectations of both parties in the past and present. And sets a framework for future cooperation between the two sides.” This applies not only to video games but also to graphic novels , Board games and other related goods.

A statement for investors contains much of the same language, but also notes that a mutual confidentiality agreement limits what can be shared more.

Polygon turned to CD Projekt for an additional comment, but none was offered.

Today’s announcement coincides with the premiere of the Witcher series on Netflix, based on Sapkowski’s work as the basis of her story.

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