Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson has publicly denounced the Electronic Software Association (ESA) after its vice president of state government affairs, Jennifer Gibbons, labeled private game servers as "illegal" and a form of "piracy." Persson, who no longer works on Minecraft, described the ESA's stance as "incredibly scummy" and "borderline evil."
The controversy arose during a California State Senate hearing concerning the proposed "Protect Our Games Act." This bill aims to ensure games remain playable even after publisher support ends, with private servers suggested as a potential solution. Gibbons cited Minecraft's community servers as an example, arguing they were unsanctioned by Microsoft and constituted illegal activity. However, this contradicts Minecraft's official website, which provides tools for players to create and host private servers, actively encouraging their use.
In response to the backlash, the ESA issued a revised statement. While reaffirming that unauthorized private servers hosting copyrighted content infringe on intellectual property rights, the statement softened the definitive nature of Gibbons' original comments. The ESA expressed concern that the proposed bill, by suggesting private servers as an alternative to maintain game access, could undermine a publisher's ability to enforce their IP rights. Additionally, the association highlighted potential risks associated with publisher-overseen servers, citing a lack of oversight and the inability to uphold the same trust and safety standards, which could create an unsafe environment for players.