- cross-posted to:
- privacy@lemmy.ml
- privacy@programming.dev
- cross-posted to:
- privacy@lemmy.ml
- privacy@programming.dev
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.”
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.
The java version authenticates with Microsoft and Mojang to prove valid ownership and to make sure parental controls are applied to accounts. I believe they are talking about unauthenticated servers that allow pirated accounts to join. Its similar to private MMO servers that are setup in a similar way. Same files, used unsupervised.
Generally this type of thing only matters with games that kids play, because people tend to try to protect kids. Games explicitly for adults seem to be able to be more free with what they allow.
Microsoft’s official server binary, distributed by Microsoft themselves, has the option to not authenticate with Mojang’s servers. You don’t even need to modify it. I wouldn’t call that one piracy.
The official minecraft client jar has an option to disable authentication with mojang servers too btw
Sure, but theres a wide range of usage for an unnoficial minecraft server. Some servers make quite a lot of money via gambling mechanics.
The main reason Mojang or Minecraft care is because they need to protect the games image as a safe thing for kids to play. If it was a mature rated game, none of this would even matter.
Sure, and WoW ships with a file that directs you to the official servers, that you can change to any IP address.
Besides all that I’m simply explaining the companies position. If you want to pirate the game feel free. If you want to allow “offline” accounts to join your server, feel free to do that too.
Tell me you’ve never hosted a Minecraft server without telling me you’ve never hosted a Minecraft server.
I literally have one running right now. Its unauthenticated as well.
Their words matter. If they wanted to say that, then they should have said that. They didn’t say that. They said private Minecraft servers are IP infringement despite Microsoft explicitly allowing them. They’re fools.
Sort of comes off as an old boomer just saying stuff off the top of their head. I’m sure its not an actual legal declaration. I guess I agree then, they are fools.