Witcher 3 - Naranča (Widow Maker) copyright infringement - CD Project RED

[adriankukic]

I am not the autor of this - just copypasting -


"Announcement about the soundtrack to the Witcher 3 game - Widow-maker song – copyright infringement

Dear gamers,
I'm addressing this to all fans of Witcher 3 game and soundtrack, where, among others, is my song „Naranca“ alias „Widow maker“. You've probably noticed that last year the song has „disappeared“ from the soundtrack folder within the game, as well from all streaming and download services. The forums alleged that the problem was probably in violation of the copyright of a Croatian author Elvis Stanic.
So that's true.

But despite warnings that my lawyers sent to the CD Project, the CD Project ignored it all, but immediately removed the song, and continued to illegally publish it on vinyl releases. There is a total of ten publications on which my song Naranca has been found, unauthorizedly renamed to „Widow-maker“ and falsely signed by Mikolai Stroinski or Marcin Przybyłowicz.
Namely, I have originally written the Naranca song for the Croatian vocal Choir „Putokazi“ in 2000 and have properly registered it with the competent Croatian (ZAMP) and international authors' base (CISAC).

I have recently reported and will continue to report to Youtube all the videos containing my song „Naranca“ if it is stated that it is a „traditional“ Croatian song, or it's listed under the name „Widow-maker“ and incorrectly signed by the names Mikolai Stroinski or Marcin Przybyłowicz, since this leads to a gross violation of my copyright.

As a composer, I am trully delighted to find my song in such a popular game and to have so many fans and covers of it, but it was stolen, the name was falsely changed, and I have been subject to enormous damage as an only and exclusive author.
I do not intend to take a legal proceedings against Channel owners, who either transfer or make covers of my composition - because I understand that the song information has been mostly transferred from the CD Project, by which they were decieved, but I am justifiably asking everyone who is doing it to check the data and specify the exact author whose song has been transferred or covered.

This way I would ask all channel owners and fans of Witcher 3 that they should not adress to me any complaint about removing the song, (since I have already received a series of insulting comments, at the edge of threatenning), but to adress their comments to CD Project, who has, by it's illegal actions done harm to me as well to all gamer's community.
From my part, I am taking all legal steps to correct the infringement.
All the best,

Elvis Stanic"