Elvis Stanić, a Croatian composer, has accused CD Projekt Red of copyright infringement/plagiarism of his song "Naranča". The song appeared on The Witcher 3 soundtrack as "Widow-maker". The song has been previously recorded by the musial group Percival, which provided compositions for the game's soundtrack.
After being contacted by the author, CDPR removed the song from the official soundtrack and its social media channels. The studio hasn't, however, compensated Stanić for the unauthorized use of his composition and ignored his repeated emails about the situation.
Stanić said (Google translated):
CD Projekt Red, and Percival, so far declined to comment.
Original composition: https://youtu.be/rMi9AiHJgaU?t=60
TW3 version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLNKFNRHONI&t=20
Personal comment - it seems the song is a traditional folk composition, but I'm not an expert. Looks like it's not as "traditional" as it seems, and have been written by Stanić.
Source: https://www.antyradio.pl/Technologi...lne-wykorzystanie-utworu-w-Wiedzminie-3-30888
Stanić's quote: https://www.bug.hr/igre/hrvatski-sk...zdavacima-the-witchera-3-za-zastitu-svog-8842
After being contacted by the author, CDPR removed the song from the official soundtrack and its social media channels. The studio hasn't, however, compensated Stanić for the unauthorized use of his composition and ignored his repeated emails about the situation.
Stanić said (Google translated):
I'm addressing all the fans of the Witcher 3 game, which includes, among other things, my song Orange, aka Widow maker. You've probably noticed that last year the song was" missing "from the soundtrack of the song tracking software and with all the streaming and download the CD Projects have warned that the problem is likely to be a violation of the copyright of Croatian author Elvis Stanić, and that is true, but despite the warnings my lawyers sent to the CD Project, the CD Project ignored the warning, removed the song but continued to release it unlawfully a song about vinyl releases, a total of ten releases on which my song Naranca is, has been illegally renamed to Widow-Maker and signed by Mikolai Stroinski, Marcin Przybyłowicz, namely, the original composition of Orson's song for the Croatian vocal composition of Putokazi 2000.and duly registered with the competent Croatian (ZAMP) and the International Authors' Center (CISAC).
I recently reported and will continue to report to Youtube all the videos containing my song Orange if it is stated that it is a traditional Croatian song or is listed under the name Widow-maker and incorrectly signed by the names Mikolai Stroinski, Marcin Przybyłowicz since this leads to gross distortion exclusively of my copyright.
As a composer, I'm delighted to have my song found in such a popular game and have so many fans and dresses, but she was stolen, her name was unauthorized, and I was subjected to enormous damage as an exclusive author.
CD Projekt Red, and Percival, so far declined to comment.
Original composition: https://youtu.be/rMi9AiHJgaU?t=60
TW3 version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLNKFNRHONI&t=20
Source: https://www.antyradio.pl/Technologi...lne-wykorzystanie-utworu-w-Wiedzminie-3-30888
Stanić's quote: https://www.bug.hr/igre/hrvatski-sk...zdavacima-the-witchera-3-za-zastitu-svog-8842
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