Last week, polish video game developer CD Projekt Red who is best known for creating the Witcher franchise filed a trademark for the word “Cyberpunk” which caused a slight backlash from the studio’s fans and followers. But the studio has just released a statement explaining its actions to assuage any concerns over them.
The studio quickly explains, “We want to protect our hard work and we don’t plan on using the trademark offensively. It’s a self-defense measure only.”
The registration is a move to protect the studio’s upcoming title Cyberpunk 2077, which is based on a series of pen-and-paper role-playing games.
Information about Cyberpunk trademark. pic.twitter.com/4mufRCp9Gf
— CD PROJEKT RED (@CDPROJEKTRED) April 6, 2017
CD Projekt Red clarified that a trademark registration is totally different from a copyright or patent and that others may still use the word “Cyberpunk” as long as “it’s not used in the course of business (e.g. branding, advertising etc.), and does not refer to products that are covered by the trademark registration.” It also doesn’t give the studio exclusivity to create games set in a certain environment or genre.
Ultimately, the trademark only means that other developers won’t be able to make games entitled “Cyberpunk 2078” or similar, which may cause confusion as well as prevent CD Projekt Red from making sequels or future titles in the series.
[Source: CD Projekt Red (Twitter)]
