Minecraft’s creator argues piracy isn’t theft if publishers treat purchases like licences.
Here’s the TL;DR…
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Markus “Notch” Persson weighed in on the Stop Killing Games campaign, tweeting that if a purchased game is only a licence, then pirating it isn’t stealing.
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His comment came after indie dev Jason Thor Hall of Pirate Software blasted the petition (1 million+ signatures) for threatening live‑service business models.
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With digital preservation and a $180 billion industry at stake, the fight over who owns a game just levelled up.
The Spark: Notch’s Viral Tweet
On July 7, 2025, Minecraft creator Markus “Notch” Persson surfaced on X after a long hiatus. Replying to YouTuber Daniel Sumpton—who’d joked about Pirate Software “doubling down” against the Stop Killing Games petition—Notch wrote:
“Just verifying that yes, that is what I was talking about.
If buying a game is not a purchase, then pirating them is not theft.”
The Dexerto screen‑grab of the exchange amassed 1.1 million views in under 24 hours (see image). Within minutes, #Notch and #StopKillingGames trended worldwide.
Oh, and Notch also referred to Pirate Software as a “nepo baby.” Ouch.
What Is “Stop Killing Games”?
Launched by YouTuber Ross Scott (Accursed Farms), the European Citizens’ Initiative seeks EU legislation forcing publishers to provide DRM‑free versions or release server code before shutting live games down. The petition topped 1 million signatures ahead of its July 31 deadline.
Indie dev Pirate Software (Jason Thor Hall) called the proposal “ridiculous,” arguing perpetual server upkeep would bankrupt small studios. Sumpton amplified that criticism, inspiring Notch’s rebuttal.
Bigger Picture: Ownership vs Access
A 2021 PwC report pegs gaming at $180 billion annually, much of it fueled by the perception of perpetual access. Yet shutdowns like Ubisoft’s The Crew (delisted 2024) expose the fragility of that promise. Notch’s piracy quip spotlights an industry contradiction: consumers can’t resell or preserve titles, yet are blamed for turning to grey‑market ROMs when servers die.
Whether EU lawmakers side with players or publishers, the conversation has shifted. The Stop Killing Games petition closes 31 July 2025; expect lobbying to intensify.
Legal & Economic Fault Lines
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UsedSoft v. Oracle (2012): EU Court ruled software licenses can be resold, bolstering arguments that digital “licenses” confer ownership rights.
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PwC Outlook 2021–25: Estimates the global games market at $180 billion, with digital sales comprising 91 % of revenue.
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ESA 2023 Facts: Live‑service models generate 65 % of industry revenue—but only while servers stay online.
Notch’s logic: if publishers treat purchases as revocable licenses, players owe them no moral duty to avoid piracy once access is revoked.
Community Reaction
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Supporters: Memes referencing “Heartbreaking: The Worst Person You Know Just Made a Great Point” flooded X. Preservationists praise Notch for “saying the quiet part out loud.”
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Critics: Devs warn that legitimizing piracy could deter investment in long‑tail server support. Some note Notch cashed out to Microsoft for $2.5 billion and “has little skin in the modern live‑service game.”
Reddit threads in r/Games and r/pcgaming show a 60/40 split favoring Notch’s stance, while smaller dev subreddits lean against him.
Why It Matters
This clash spotlights an existential question: Do we own the games we buy? Notch’s blunt framing forces industry, legislators, and players to confront the contradiction between “purchase” marketing and revocable‑license EULAs.
With EU lawmakers mulling the Stop Killing Games petition—and U.S. regulators watching—the debate could shape future consumer‑protection rules. Whether studios adapt with offline fallbacks or double‑down on always‑online DRM, the days of ignoring preservation cries are numbered.
News compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs and Steven Bubbles on July 8 2025.
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Sources
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Dexerto, “Minecraft creator Notch backs piracy in Stop Killing Games feud” (July 9 2025)
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European Citizens’ Initiative – Stop Destroying Videogames (accessed July 8 2025)
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Entertainment Software Association, Essential Facts 2023
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PwC, Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2021‑2025
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Court of Justice of the EU, UsedSoft v Oracle (2012)
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