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Minecraft Creator Speaks Out Against ESA Calling Private Servers 'Illegal'
IGN • • technology
Key Points:
- Markus "Notch" Persson, creator of Minecraft, criticized the Electronic Software Association (ESA) for labeling Minecraft's private servers as "illegal" and "piracy," calling the ESA's stance "borderline evil."
- The controversy arose during a California State Senate hearing on the Protect Our Games Act, which aims to require game publishers to keep games playable after official support ends, with private servers cited as a potential solution.
- ESA's VP Jennifer Gibbons claimed private servers are unauthorized and likened them to a "black market," despite Minecraft's official support and encouragement for private servers by Mojang.
- ESA later softened its position, stating that unauthorized private servers may infringe on intellectual property rights and pose safety concerns, but publishers reserve the right to enforce these rights as they see fit.
