Full Breakdown
ESA Calls Minecraft Private Servers Illegal; Notch Calls It Borderline Evil
7/2/2026, 12:14:21 PM
ESA Calls Minecraft Private Servers Illegal; Notch Responds
At a California State Senate hearing on Protect Our Games Act, ESA Vice President Jennifer Gibbons said private Minecraft servers are “illegal,” constitute “piracy,” are “unsanctioned by Microsoft,” and likened them to a gaming “black market.” Minecraft creator Markus “Notch” Persson called the ESA’s stance “scummy” and “borderline evil.”
Protect Our Games Act Hearing
The hearing examined bill CA AB 1921, which would require publishers to keep games functional after support ends. Lawmakers cited private servers, especially Minecraft’s community-run servers, as a preservation model.
Key Figures & Organizations
Key participants are Markus “Notch” Persson, Minecraft’s creator; Jennifer Gibbons, ESA Vice President; the ESA; and Mojang Studios/Microsoft, which offers official private-server tools.
Why It Matters
The ESA says unlicensed private servers erode IP rights and lack oversight, creating unsafe environments. If CA AB 1921 passes, publishers could face IP enforcement limits and a shift in post-support preservation.
Official Statements & Responses
The ESA issued two statements. The first echoed Gibbons’s claim; the second softened language, noting private servers “host or distribute copyrighted game content without authorization” and “operate with no oversight, lacking the same trust and safety standards.” Mojang’s site lists server-hosting tools and a community-server browser, showing support.
Criticism & Opposition
Persson, no longer affiliated with Minecraft, called the ESA’s stance “scummy” and said his creation was used to support a claim he deems “borderline evil.” He warns the position could hinder community-driven preservation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The ESA’s illegal label conflicts with Mojang’s support for player-hosted servers. No court ruling clarifies Minecraft private servers’ legal status, leaving a guidance gap for publishers and players.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I'm not part of either any more, but I feel like the ESA is being incredibly scummy by pulling this,” — Markus “Notch” Persson, Minecraft creator
- “I've never liked them, but even less so now. I did not wish for my work to be used against people. This is borderline evil.” — Markus “Notch” Persson
- “Gibbons claimed that these private servers are actually "illegal", a form of "piracy", and, in the case of Minecraft, are unsanctioned by Microsoft.” — Jennifer Gibbons, ESA VP of State Government Affairs
- “In addition, private servers operate with no oversight from the publisher and do not uphold the same trust and safety standards.” — ESA statement
What’s Next
The California Senate will keep debating CA AB 1921, possibly amending it for private-server oversight. The ESA may clarify further, and Mojang is expected to keep supporting community servers pending outcomes.
