'Allows us to protect the integrity of our titles and future investments.'

Grand Theft Auto IV screenshot

Rockstar has defended anti-piracy measures it has taken with the PC version of open-world phenomenon GTA 4, saying it protects the integrity of its titles and future investments.

Gamers who buy boxed copies of GTA 4, out in the UK this Wednesday, will require an internet connection to activate the software and will need to keep the DVD in the drive. It will also require Games for Windows, Adobe Flash, Internet Explorer, SecuROM and the Rockstar Games Social Club application to be installed.

Speaking to IGN, Rockstar said: "Creating video game entertainment is our passion and we invest a considerable amount of time and effort to release each title, and employ a large number of people in the process. Having copy protection allows us to protect the integrity or our titles and future investments, but at the same time we have worked very hard to ensure that our solutions do not persecute the legitimate players of our games. Implemented correctly, SecuROM is the most effective form of disc based copy protection and allows us to manage authenticity on a global level for Grand Theft Auto IV."

Unlike other high-profile PC releases this year, the retail version of GTA 4 will have no install limits. Rockstar said that it "rewards loyal, paying customers and will offer incentives and downloadable content that will only be available to registered users of the game, running non-hacked copies, via Rockstar Games Social Club."

What do you think about Rockstar's PC GTA 4 copy-protection methods? Let us know in the comments section below.