Maker of The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red, Hit Twitter users with Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) removals for sharing links to Gwent source code, according to a recent report from Vice
Multiple Twitter users reported that their tweets, at least some of which were linked to the source code likely leaked into the CD Projekt Red data hack earlier this month, were removed following copyright claims by the Polish game company. “Description of the infringement: illegally obtained source code of Gwent: The Witcher Card GamePosted without permission, not intended to be disclosed, ”read one of the DMCA takedown requests, a copy of which was obtained and reviewed by Vice
The source code for Gwent is just part of a seemingly much larger data breach. On February 9 CD Projekt Red announced that hackers have stolen data ranging from source code to Cyberpunk 2077 to financial documents and employee personal information, and held them for ransom. After refusal to pay, part of the data was reportedly sold at auctionAround the same time, the source code for Gwent specific seemed to start the round online
CD Projekt Red did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the issuance of DMCA removals to attempt to stop the spread of the hacked information or in general about where are investigating the cause of the breach and who is currently behind it was sitting.
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DMCA takedowns have long been a legal tool for businesses looking to take control of their intellectual property and how it’s used. Nintendo is known for using them to block fan games and to remove soundtracks from YouTube. But they are also increasingly common on other platforms. This weekend only, viewers streaming BlizzCon Online on Twitch via DMCA messages were blocked from hearing a live Metallica concert intended as part of the event.
Video game companies have also occasionally used them to dissuade people tweeting screenshots or videos of their gamesJust before Cyberpunk 2077’s release, CD Project Red used a DMCA report to stop someone of sharing an image of the game’s Tā Moko tattoos as part of a critique of how they were used in the game.