Notch Slams ESA Over Claims Private Minecraft Servers Are “Illegal
Minecraft’s original creator, Markus “Notch” Persson, has criticized the Electronic Software Association (ESA) after the group argued that privately run Minecraft servers are “illegal.” The dispute ties into a broader push in U.S. politics over whether publishers should be required to keep games functional after they stop supporting them.
Key dates, platforms, and what’s being proposed
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| California Senate hearing | Held earlier this month regarding the Protect Our Games Act, backed by Stop Killing Games |
| ESA statements | Two statements provided “yesterday,” followed by an updated version that tempers the original language |
| Bill referenced in ESA’s updated concerns | CA AB 1921, cited as proposing private servers as a way to keep games running |
Earlier in the month, the California State Senate hosted a hearing connected to the Protect Our Games Act, a proposal backed by Stop Killing Games. The bill’s goal is to require publishers to offer some method of continued play for titles after official support ends. In practice, that’s aimed at live-service games, where shutting down servers typically ends access. During the discussion, private servers were presented as one possible solution—and Minecraft was brought up as a high-profile example.
That’s where the ESA’s position entered. ESA vice president of state government affairs Jennifer Gibbons responded with a claim that private servers are “illegal,” framing them as a type of piracy. She also argued that, for Minecraft specifically, these servers are not sanctioned by Microsoft, and she went so far as to describe them as a kind of gaming “black market.”
Notch directly disputed the premise. Minecraft’s official offerings, as described by the creator, include tools for players to set up their own private servers, along with a web interface that features custom server options. The implication is that this server setup is not just tolerated—it’s actively supported by Mojang, which maintains the game’s ecosystem.
Even though Notch is no longer working on the franchise, he still took issue with the ESA’s comments. In his response, he said he’s “not part of either” anymore, but believes the ESA’s behavior is especially harmful and manipulative. He added that he never had a good opinion of the organization, and that this episode made it worse, emphasizing that he didn’t want his work used in a way that targets or harms other people.
He also called the situation “borderline evil,” arguing that the framing of private servers as unlawful is being used against the community rather than fairly addressed.
The ESA later provided updated messaging: it shared two statements about the matter the day after, including one that largely reinforced Gibbons’ earlier comments and another that moved toward a less absolute tone. The updated statement included the following points:
“Private servers that host or distribute copyrighted game content without authorization infringe on the intellectual property (IP) rights of game publishers. While publishers may take different approaches, all publishers reserve the right to exercise their rights against IP infringement. The provision in CA AB 1921 that proposed these servers as a legitimate alternative to keep games running raises concerns about a publisher’s ability to enforce their IP rights. In addition, private servers operate with no oversight from the publisher and do not uphold the same trust and safety standards. This could create an unsafe environment for players and be counter to the industry’s commitment to fostering safe and fun game play for all players.”
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
