Suing Minecraft Because They Broke The Law & Pissed Me Off

Summary

This video script details a legal struggle against Mojang, the company behind Minecraft, following their enforcement of new guidelines that banned guns and weapons on community servers. The author describes the financial and emotional toll of the decision, claiming Mojang's actions violated European consumer protection laws and were misleadingly communicated. Allegations also include the company’s failure to disclose important updates and allowing gambling mechanics in Minecraft, despite rules against it. After exhausting all avenues for legal support, the author turns to crowdfunding to finance a lawsuit, seeking justice not just for themselves but for the wider gaming community.

Takeaways

• 😀 The individual created a Minecraft server called MC War, inspired by a game from 2013, and spent significant time and money developing it, only for Mojang's new policies to prevent its launch.
• 😀 Mojang introduced a directive that prohibited guns and firearms in Minecraft servers, which affected many existing and planned servers, including MC War, after months of development and marketing.
• 😀 Mojang's enforcement team threatened to shut down servers with guns, leading to confusion and frustration in the community, especially with the unclear definition of what constituted 'guns' or 'weapons'.
• 😀 The individual tried to engage with Mojang for clarification, but Mojang's responses were vague, and they ignored key questions for months, causing delays in decision-making.
• 😀 A new interpretation of the End User License Agreement (EULA) was introduced, claiming guns and firearms violated the adult content policy, but no clear guidelines were given in the official contract.
• 😀 The individual discovered that Mojang's new restrictions on guns were not outlined in the EULA and were instead hidden in non-public documents that could be changed at any time, violating transparency laws.
• 😀 European consumer protection laws and contract law dictate that terms of service must be clear, fair, and transparent, and Mojang's hidden changes to their policies violated these principles.
• 😀 The individual found that Mojang's hidden terms allowed gambling mechanisms in Minecraft, such as loot boxes and crate keys, which went against their publicly stated policy prohibiting gambling.
• 😀 Despite multiple attempts to seek legal help, the individual encountered barriers with Sweden's legal institutions, who failed to provide adequate support, citing issues with the complexity of the case and bureaucratic problems.
• 😀 The individual ultimately launched a crowdfunding campaign to finance legal action against Mojang, arguing that the case was not only about their project but about holding Mojang accountable for broader issues affecting the community.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the script?

The main issue discussed is the author's legal dispute with Mojang, the creator of Minecraft, after they enforced a new directive prohibiting servers from featuring guns and firearms, leading to the author's project being shut down and significant financial losses.

How did the author attempt to recreate an old game they enjoyed?

The author aimed to recreate an old game they used to play, called MC War, which had shut down in 2013. After months of development and significant community engagement, they set a release date for June 2nd, 2023, but encountered legal obstacles when Mojang enforced a new directive.

What was Mojang's new directive about guns and firearms?

Mojang's new directive reinterpreted the terms of service to prohibit guns and firearms on Minecraft servers, classifying them as non-compliant with the game's guidelines, particularly under the adult content requirements for commercial usage servers.

What were some of the key points the author and others raised about Mojang's enforcement of the new directive?

The key points raised included questioning why servers with guns had operated without issue for years, why Mojang's own marketplace could feature guns while others could not, and the inconsistency of banning guns while Minecraft itself includes explosive crossbows.

How did Mojang respond to the community's concerns about the new directive?

Mojang initially ignored most questions and concerns, only responding months later. They claimed that the new directive was not a ban on guns but a clarification of the rules, though this was not clearly defined. They also blamed the delay on key decision-makers being on vacation.

What legal issues did the author identify with Mojang's actions?

The author identified that Mojang's failure to disclose key information about the directive, as well as their lack of clarity in updating the terms of service, violated European consumer protection laws, particularly regarding misleading omissions and one-sided contract changes.

What specific European consumer protection laws were violated according to the author?

The author claims that Mojang violated laws related to consumer protection and contract fairness, including the requirement to notify users about changes to terms of service and ensuring that contract terms are clear and transparent.

How did Mojang handle the updates to their terms of service?

Mojang updated their terms of service secretly and without notifying users, making the changes during a major game update and not alerting the public. The author argues this was a violation of consumer rights, as companies must notify users of such changes.

What are the gambling-related issues mentioned in the script?

The author highlights the prevalence of gambling-like mechanics on Minecraft servers, such as crates and crate keys that act like lottery systems. Despite the game's prohibition on gambling, these mechanics are allowed, leading to concerns about child gambling addiction.

What did the author conclude about the failure to get legal aid and accountability in Sweden?

The author concluded that despite their attempts to seek legal aid and justice, Sweden's legal system failed to provide effective support, particularly for individuals with limited financial resources, leaving Mojang largely unaccountable for their actions.