CD Projekt Red has issued a warning about sharing footage of Cyberpunk 2077 ahead of the game's release next week.
To ensure players around the world can enjoy the same "spoiler-free" experience on release, it's asking anyone who does receive a copy of the game early not to upload or stream any footage. Of course, if you do decide to ignore this warning, then expect to be hit with a takedown. Here's the full message it shared via Twitter:
"We're getting closer and closer to launch and chances are some of you will get your hands on a copy of Cyberpunk 2077 before release day. However difficult this might be for us to achieve, our ambition is for gamers all across the world to have the same—spoiler free—experience at the time the game releases."
"This is why we kindly ask you NOT TO stream/let's play, or release any similar content before December 9th, 12pm CET/3 am PST. We will send MAX-TAC (you know, the guys who take down videos) after everyone who does. After that date, however, we would love if you streamed everything like there's no tomorrow."
There have already been reports of leaks and takedowns in the month of November, so it's no surprise to see CDPR issue this latest notice. Of course, some fans have also been lucky enough to receive their copy of the game early. As long as they don't share anything before the above-mentioned date, then everything will be fine.
[source twitter.com, via pcgamer.com]
Comments 8
This is the only game I'm looking forward to but I'm waiting until I can get an S.
@Carck I'm glad they have said it with people like yourself out there
Spoiler: the game will be delayed again!
On a serious note: Control and DQXIV have just finished installing on my XSX, so I'll probably play CP2077 during Christmas at the earliest.
@Carck FYI MAX-TAC is an imaginary group based on Cyberpunk’s universe.
@Carck you're not being punished though, you are free to play it as much as you wish but with any stream its inevitable leaks will appear elsewhere and potentially spoil it for others
@Carck I don't think a single person who games would be surprised to face some sort of punishment for streaming a game (ie,someone else's work) before the date it's released.
That's all they are asking - don't stream till it's released. They are being very fair about it and have even implemented features so people can stream.
@Carck It's a false argument. Anyone streaming is effectively a broadcaster, and as such, any broadcaster is expected to be aware of all the rules, regulations, red tape, licensing, and toes to step on involved, be it national television, public radio, ham, or Youtube. There's no such defense as "not being aware of the legalities, contracts, rights holders, and regulations" for a broadcaster.
In traditional air based communications there's the FCC in the US and whatever the UK ministry of the same function is to deal with. On the internet there's corporate policies from Google, Amazon etc. As a broadcaster, you're responsible for the legal maneuvering of your content.
Somehow when Youtube and the like came around every Joe Q. Public decided that everyone can just do whatever they want and bypass the traditional norms of broadcast. But it doesn't work that way. The platform holders wear the mantle of what the governments do in OTA broadcast.
@Carck I can't say if there's an agreement about that or not. You'd have to read through the EULA to see if there's any embargo stipulations involved. If there are none, then they're simply asking you not to be a jerk and spoil things for others. If there are any, then it's right there in the contract.
Similar to game critics, they give you a copy of the game to play weeks in advance. You agree to say nothing about it and show nothing from it until a set embargo date. Having the game with the ability to speak/show it doesn't grant the right to do so before the agreed upon time.
In this instance I can't say if it's part of the agreement or not. If you have the game, I don't - you'd have to read through the terms of the agreement. If there's nothing in there, then legally, there's no breach if you do stream it. My point was that not being aware of the terms if they exist isn't a valid excuse for broadcasters.
All that said, even if it's not in the terms, but they're asking people to not do it, it's still a jerky move to do it. Just one that can't be prosecuted subsequent a takedown notice.
OTOH, if they can issue takedown notices, I'm guessing it's probably in the terms of the EULA.
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