this post was submitted on 30 Jun 2026
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Cross-geposted von: https://feddit.org/post/31996415

In a remarkably strange statement at a recent California State Senate hearing over the Protect Our Games Act (AB 1921, California's Stop Killing Games-endorsed bill to compel publishers to provide ways to keep playing discontinued games), a representative of the Entertainment Software Association declared private servers for the likes of Minecraft and Call of Duty "illegal," adding that, so far as the ESA is concerned, "we consider it piracy."

In a statement to PC Gamer, the ESA wrote that, so far as it's concerned, "Private servers infringe on the intellectual property (IP) rights of game publishers. Publishers reserve the right to exercise their rights against them."

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[–] TheStaffmaster@lemmy.world 6 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

you do know that like 85% of TF2 servers (yes there are still TF2 players) are community hosted? I hope this dipshit is ready to deal with the business end of a fully loaded Gaben.

a bit of context as a current Minecraft player:

About two years ago, Microsoft made Mojang add a rather draconian player reporting feature to all of their server software that constantly scans the chat for "malicious content." "Malicious content" is the usual boilerplate corporate image ass covering, but while that is bad enough, it also has the power to ban a player from even accessing their OWN private, Singleplayer world, should the algorithm deem the infraction severe enough. Unfortunately, the console version of the game (known as "Bedrock" by the community, due to it having a shared cross play API for all console ports) was wholly owned by Microsoft, with Mojang only getting a developer credit. This means for the console player, there is little to be done. Meanwhile on the original PC version (Known as "Java" for the language it's coded in) had this implemented as well, but because Mojang owns all the licencing for THAT version, and they have an open, "hands off" modding API policy (within reason) for it, Modders IMMEDIATELY coded a workaround that deactivates the part of the code operating the chat reporting feature, by spoofing the blockchain authentications that verify that the chat entries scanned are "authentic" (basically it makes the receiving server at Mojang believe that every chat entry's "encryption key" is "inauthentic" so it can ignore all of them, no matter what their content is. The clever bastards.) This mod ("no chat reports") is now considered a part of standard server op support QoL installs, for the Java player base.

[–] WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today 19 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Well then, I guess we will just have to make better OpenSource games, now won't we?

[–] nanoSwiss@lemmy.world 5 points 10 hours ago

can really recommended beyond all reason, a foss rts game, in the style of supreme commander. running on lua.

[–] Daedskin@lemmy.zip 47 points 21 hours ago

It's blatantly a bad stance from them; but it doesn't even touch on games that use internal client/server models even when playing single-player — which includes Minecraft. If their argument were law, would I be breaking it by just playing Minecraft at all? With the way it's worded, I would think yes.

That doesn't even take into account that Minecraft in particular can turn a single-player client/server into a multiplayer with one button press. Would that be illegal? Maybe they'd argue not, because it's LAN only (which is a flimsy argument as well). But with a little effort, you could open up that LAN server up to whomever you wanted.

Very obvious they didn't think it through, they just want you to own nothing.

[–] DonAntonioMagino@feddit.nl 45 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Why would the European Space Agency do such a thing...

[–] SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.de 12 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Their nerds waste too much time playing the game

[–] DonAntonioMagino@feddit.nl 11 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

I thought they were all playing Kerbal.

[–] Hupf@feddit.org 7 points 20 hours ago (2 children)
[–] CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social 3 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

To be fair, the european space agency isn't NASA

[–] Hupf@feddit.org 4 points 15 hours ago

You're right, KSA would be more on-brand perhaps?

[–] Aneorthisio@lemmy.ml 40 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

All I heard from the ESA representative is : "If buying isn't owning, pirating isn't stealing." 🦜

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 16 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

It's worse lmao they're saying that buying is piracy

[–] calcopiritus@lemmy.world 5 points 14 hours ago

If buying is piracy, piracy is not stealing

[–] timestatic@feddit.org 24 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah obviously since these games don't want private servers they provided the exact files to host your own server. Do they really believe the courts are that stupid?

[–] Auth@lemmy.world 1 points 10 hours ago

They arent saying games have to enforce it they're saying they have the right to enforce it if they choose. Clearly they arent.

[–] MrMakabar@slrpnk.net 29 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I was like what the hell is the European Space Agency doing with Minecraft in California...

[–] Baggie@lemmy.zip 12 points 23 hours ago

Exploring the vacuum between the ears of these people apparently

[–] Cocodapuf@lemmy.world 39 points 1 day ago (1 children)

We reached out to all gamers everywhere and a spokesman for the group responded with the following statement:

Lol wut?

Fucking noobs...

[–] GarboDog@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Lol wut?

Fucking noobs…

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 125 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (9 children)

So it's piracy to use the software that comes with the game? The Java version of the game, at least, has always come with the software to run your own server without needing to rent one directly from any specific vendor.

The ESA can go fuck itself.

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[–] waitmarks@lemmy.world 68 points 1 day ago

If it’s piracy either way then why are we paying?

[–] CosmoNova@lemmy.world 269 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Game devs: „Here is the code to run our games on a private server. Have fun!“

Gamers: „Cool, thanks! Will do!“

ESA: „ISN‘T THERE SOMEONE YOU FORGOT TO ASK???“

[–] fartographer@lemmy.world 10 points 20 hours ago

I invited Jesus, but he never logs on

[–] Phantaloons@piefed.zip 13 points 1 day ago

THAT'S ILLEGAL REEEEE

We'll keep up the good work, then.

IP has more rights than people.

[–] Danitos@reddthat.com 210 points 1 day ago (22 children)

ESA members: https://www.theesa.com/our-members/

  • Amazon
  • Atari
  • Bandai Namco
  • Capcom
  • Disney
  • EA
  • Epic Games
  • Konami
  • Mattel
  • Microsoft
  • Netflix
  • Nintendo
  • Riot Games
  • Roblox
  • Sony Play Station
  • Square Enix
  • Take 2 (owner of Rockstar, 2K and Zynga)
  • Tencent
  • Ubisoft
  • Warner Bros
  • Wizard of the Coast (owner of MtG and DnD's rights)

The page also has this quote:

Shape and influence the largest entertainment industry in America.

[–] CovertOperative@piefed.zip 1 points 9 hours ago

Atari still exists??

[–] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 69 points 1 day ago (2 children)

So absolutely no one I respect. Nice. ESA go fuck yourself.

[–] TotalCourage007@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Wonder how many of these guys employee lawyer trolls scumbags. looks and finds Nintendo Ninjas only one of the most bs litigous companies.

[–] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 hour ago

Not sure if they are lawyers but they are all employing scumbag trolls, that is what ESA is.

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[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 54 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Gibbons cut in: "They're illegal. They are not in any way affiliated with Microsoft. Microsoft, for Minecraft, has gotten a lot of criticism because of those community servers not employing the same safety standards that Microsoft does on their Minecraft servers."

Oh this bullshit with the EULA

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[–] Mwa@thelemmy.club 8 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

so all tf2 servers (non casual or comp) is illegal now?

[–] supernicepojo@lemmy.world 211 points 1 day ago (6 children)

Of all the hot takes in the world, that statement is the dumbest thing I have ever heard someone say. Completely out-of-touch with the case, with the subject and with the games referenced. It is literally wronger than Flat Earth and young earth creationism in a single sentence. I would quote Bully Madison but even that wouldnt suffice.

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[–] ChaoticEntropy@feddit.uk 52 points 1 day ago

The ESA is a mouthpiece for companies that want you to own nothing and do nothing that they don't approve of and benefit from.

[–] MousePotatoDoesStuff@piefed.social 108 points 1 day ago (9 children)

Why is the European Space Agency doing this instead of a moon program or something? /j

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[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 day ago

It's not baffling, if you realize its the ESA saying it.

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