CD Projekt cease "identifying, contacting" Witcher II pirates

CD Projekt as decided to "cease identifying and contacting" those it believed had pirated The Witcher II due to concerns expressed by the community.

According to the firm's co-founder Marcin Iwinski, an outpouring of concern was expressed over the possibility a legitimate purchaser might be fingered by mistake in the process. Through legal action, the accused would be forced to pay around €750 to the firm in order to avoid going to court where fines and penalties could reach a more considerable sum.

"While we are confident that no one who legally owns one of our games has been required to compensate us for copyright infringement, we value our fans, our supporters, and our community too highly to take the chance that we might ever falsely accuse even one individual," he said in an open letter posted by RPS.

"Our fans always have been and remain our greatest concern, and we pride ourselves on the fact that you all know that we listen to you and take your opinions to heart."

Iwinski wanted to make it "clear" the firm still abhors piracy, despite the firm's move.

"It hurts us, the developers. It hurts the industry as a whole," he said. "Though we are staunch opponents of DRM because we don’t believe it has any effect on reducing piracy, we still do not condone copying games illegally.

"We’re doing our part to keep our relationship with you, our gaming audience, a positive one. We’ve heard your concerns, listened to your voices, and we’re responding to them. But you need to help us and do your part: don’t be indifferent to piracy. If you see a friend playing an illegal copy of a game – any game – tell your friend that they’re undermining the possible success of the developer who created the very game that they are enjoying.

"Unless you support the developers who make the games you play, unless you pay for those games, we won’t be able to produce new excellent titles for you."

Back in December, the firm estimated The Witcher II had been pirated "4.5 million times".

Thanks, Blue.