Actually the game IS DRM free...it's the updates that aren't.....so technically Gog is in the clear here.

No, it's designed to hinder pirates. That's not to say it works, but that's what it's designed for.
No. Not that I'm 'bitching' about this, actually. But I won't stop pointing out the disingenuous nature of it.

Let me ask you this: if this isn't DRM, why does it stop me from updating the game on my off-line rig? Stand-alone patches would allow me to DL the patch, copy it to a USB stick, then update my game. This system requires you to be on-line to update the game. Smells like DRM to me.

Well that's just DRM that is not applied on installation or .exe but on another layer

Slow down there, I have not seen anyone say that witcher will update via launcher or whatever, from what Enigmatic wrote I understood that it will make the patch files accessible, which would mean you just need a valid CD-key to download stand alone patches. That makes it seem even more ridiculous if it proves to be true, really.

Still, the base game is still DRM free.

Sematics, we could go on for hours.

How can that possibly not be considered DRM? If I want to patch the game, I'm forced to register it with a unique serial key and use the game's launcher to connect to your servers... The launcher can be viewed as a required client and requiring registration for a proprietary patching scheme can be viewed as a form of online authentication... Forcing us to use the game's launcher to get the updates means we'll be required to have the game installed on a machine with an internet connection, most likely broadband, if we desire to patch it.

The game's updater automatically makes the changes, as opposed to downloading a standalone patch.exe that would be quick and easy to backup for later, offline, installs. Presumably, the only way to backup a patched version of the game is to copy the altered files themselves, and since I doubt most of us will actually know exactly which files have been changed, we'll have to backup the entire folder... Not only will that make for sloppy reinstalls, it'll be a massive pain in the ass for anyone that uses DVDs as a storage medium...

Back to the required broadband connection, should our computer not have one, (at the time or at all, for whatever reason), we will effectively be unable to easily, quickly, and efficiently patch our game... Offering standalone patches on our GOG games page would at least allow us to login on a computer, (family member's, friend's, library's, ect...), that does have a highspeed connection, download the update, transfer it to a jumpdrive, patch our game when we got home, and easily backup the file for a later install...

All of this can be applied to DLC as well, but the patches are far more important... Your "About Us" claims that we "actually own" the games we purchase on your site, but with the patching system you've got in place for The Witcher 2, I most certainly don't feel like I'll own the complete product, merely the initial release...

To get all melodramatic for a minute, I feel this sets a dangerous precedence for your site, your business model, and is overall extremely reminiscent of the garbage StarDock pulled... I'm not saying I'm not going to purchase the game, I am, but honestly, I'm severely disappointed with you guys at the moment and my trust has been damaged here... I very much feel like we've been mislead... I feel I've mislead others, as I've been pushing your version of The Witcher 2 on various sites and in various games because I trusted you when you announced your version would be DRM free... I can't in, good conscience, do that anymore, and part of me feels I should start pointing all this out to people...

In closing, to clarify and reiterate, by forcing us to register our product to use an automatic updater to patch the game, you are controlling the product after sale, and that most certainly is DRM... Perhaps the end result is DRM free, but the method of getting there is anything but... I'm not against the auto updater in and of itself, I'm not even necessarily against registering the digital version for access to patches and DLC, what I'm against is this being touted as DRM free, being forced to use the game's launcher as the sole means to automatically update the game, (as opposed to being able to log into a CDProjekt owned/partnered site to download a standalone file), and the complete lack of easily backupable, standalone patch and DLC files...

Regardless of whether this can be considered DRM or not, it's highly inconvenient for me because I'm stuck with a dial-up connection at home. Downloading installers while I'm at work is fine, but I can't install TW2 on my work computer. Unless the patches are smaller than 50Mb or so, this makes patching the game extremely inconvenient for me.

Guess I'll wait before buying. Sometimes games are polished enough that they don't need any patches. Doubt that will be the case with TW2 though, it being an RPG and all. Of course if we end up with a way of downloading standalone patches, then I'll definitely be buying it.

This is why it's DRM folks, this right here. This is also why their original claim of a DRM free experience on GOG were disingenuous.

Note that no one has officially stated that you'll download patches via launcher or anything like that officially, TheEnigmaticT only stated you will need a serial to access them - that's how files for original Witcher were secured, files themselves didn't have any protection on them, to download them you needed a CD key and an account however.

Actually: From http://tw2.thewitcher.com/images/newsletter/TW2_FAQ_April2011.pdf

Indeed.

People keep skipping over that and acting like we don't know their exact plan. We do know their plan, it was stated clearly.

Just to add to adamhm's post:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymrxa9LOmjU&feature=player_detailpage#t=777s

That sucks! It sucks so badly! I really, REALLY hope GoG eventually provides a DRM-free installer for the newest version of the game when that gets out.

I never said it wasn't some sort of DRM. Technically it could be seen as one. All i'm saying is that complaining about it is counterproductive, especially these days when publishers feel that any DRM scheme is justified to protect their rights, despite common sense.
And mind you i'm alright with this because of a generous mood i'm in right now. About a month ago i made a fool out or myself ranting about the fact that Witcher 2 is realased on GOG without polish dubbing. Few days ago it turned out that polish audio will be downloadable on realase date for everybody. Not everything is as bad as it seems. I'm pretty sure there will eventually be a possibility for all of us to download a patch as a standalone file. I'll just be patient.

I would assume one day the DRM will be removed from the disc versions and the updates will be made freely available, just like with The Witcher. There's no promises though, of course.