CD Projekt RED Explains Cyberpunk Trademark

"A self-defense measure only."

By Alex Osborn

CD Project RED has come forward to explain the studio's decision to register the trademark for "Cyberpunk" as it prepares for the launch of its ambitious new role-playing game, Cyberpunk 2077.

"We wish to project our hard work and we don't plan on using the trademark offensively," CD Project RED said in a post on its official Twitter account. According to the studio, the trademark was registered as "a self-defense measure only."

The studio went on to note that Cyberpunk 2077 is "a massive project" that they've "already invested a lot of hard work and resources into." As such, CD Project RED decided to file a trademark to make sure that they "will be the only entity that can use its exact name and naming scheme."

The company also wants to ensure that, in the event they made a sequel or created expansions, they wouldn't be limited in their naming options. "Should we ever decide to create a sequel, there's a possibility of someone telling use we can't name it, say, Cyberpunk 2078 or Cyberpunk 2," CD Project RED explained.

Additionally, the studio noted that because this is a trademark and not a copyright or patent, it doesn't prohibit others from using it entirely, and it also doesn't CD Project RED has the exclusive rights to the Cyberpunk genre or setting. As far as another's ability use of the word Cyberpunk in their game title, the studio notes that it "may be prohibited only if it could confuse the customers," and the trademark doesn't "probability using the word as a descriptive term." The full explanation of the studio's trademark registration can be found here.

Cyberpunk 2077 promises to be "far, far bigger" than CD Project RED's work, with the Polish developer saying they're "really stepping into the unknown in terms of complexity and size and problems [they] encounter." While details on the RPG remain few and far between, the studio shed light on the incredible amount of work being poured into the game, telling investors last year "there are currently more game developers working on Cyberpunk 2077 than on The Witcher 3 in its most intensive month."

Alex Osborn is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter and subscribe to his YouTube channel.

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