What would prevent someone from giving their activation code to a friend and then letting them redeem the code on here?
I imagine it's the same thing that prevents one from copying it on to one's USB drive and giving it to a friend; namely one's scruples.

Unless of course I'm misunderstanding how this whole thing works.

I would guess if you bought it on GOG the backup copy is tied to your account and you cant give it away. For people who bought it elsewhere, you'll have to input your original CD key on GOG in order to get the backup, and after that it will be tied to your account.

This was my understanding, but what if someone else used that code and activated it on their account? You still have your copy from wherever and now they have one on GoG.

Yeah they could probably do that. But I think most people would want the backup copy for themselves rather than giving it away.

I assume the backup copy is just access to the DRM-free game files from GOG, the same as you'd have if you bought the game from here. So assuming that's the case, in essence, yes it's just scruples that keep you from giving it away.

Well, I commend CD Projekt Red then for taking this bold step and hope that abuses are few and far between.

It'll probably be abused by some, but as was said there's nothing stopping anyone from downloading any game on steam and giving it to a friend. btw, I just noticed that the CD keys are already redeemable, I got my backup :)

Are there any plans for backup copies for the first Witcher?

You guys have already been pretty great at keeping your fans happy, so no pressure; I'm just wondering.

I bought the Collectors Edition at the release date and bought the GOG Version back in December to have the DRM free Digital version. I hope it does not count as abuse if i give my key from the retail version to my brother?

The way it works, that's all up to your conscience ;)

and I hope that people understand that and don't ruin it for the rest of us. The last thing that we need is to push what seems to be the last developer (CDPR) and digital distributor (gog.com) on earth that isn't willing to treat its customers like criminals to jump on the asinine DRM bandwagon.

That is all.

My friend asked to do this and I just made him buy it instead. Be good to developers who are good to you, everyone.

I have to totally disagree with what is being said in this thread. I pre-ordered and purchased the GOG Version of the Witcher 2 as well as the Collector's Edition and have had them since release to show my support for GOG and CDPR. I do not think it is in any way an issue for me to give my "Back-Up" copy from the Collector's Edition away to someone as this is not CDPR doing anything for me for my support. This is totally a marketing ploy to pull more folks from the Newly Released XBOX crowd and other retail outlets over to GOG; which is fine but lets see some support for those that really have supported them since the beginning. Giving away the "back-up" copy is in no way abuse after all I own the GOG Version already. Let's say that is my "back-up" copy and I am "gifting" a paid for copy to someone else.

I have to say i did gave baldurs gate 2 from gog to my friend before, but he would never bought it otherwise, so no money lost imo :D