Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes: Difference between revisions

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}}[[wikipedia:Minecraft#:~:text=The%20first%20public%20alpha%20build|Minecraft Alpha]] was published and sold by a small developer, advocating for consumer ownership, promising [[Digital Rights Management(DRM)|Digital Rights Management (DRM)]]-free software<ref name=":2">,{{Cite web |date=2011-09-23 |title=Minecraft - About the game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923112156/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2011-09-23 |website=www.minecraft.net}}</ref> free optional updates, and a free copy of the fully released version for every earlier buyer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2011-09-23 |title=Minecraft Terms of Use |url=http://www.minecraft.net/terms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923135753/http://www.minecraft.net/terms |archive-date=2011-09-23 |website=www.minecraft.net}}</ref>

~~{{Ph-I-Int~~}}[[wikipedia:Minecraft#:~:text=The%20first%20public%20alpha%20build|Minecraft ~~Alfa~~]] was published and sold by a small developer, advocating for consumer ownership, promising [[Digital Rights Management(DRM)]]-free software<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-09-23 |title=Minecraft - About the game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923112156/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2011-09-23 |website=www.minecraft.net}}</ref>, free optional updates, and a free copy of the fully released version for every earlier buyer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2011-09-23 |title=Minecraft Terms of Use |url=http://www.minecraft.net/terms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923135753/http://www.minecraft.net/terms |archive-date=2011-09-23 |website=www.minecraft.net}}</ref>

After years of changes in the title and content of the terms of use, all the previous buyers who failed to stop accepting updates in time, had to choose between forfeiting the ownership or losing the option to use the software offline.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-18 |title=Minecraft account migration |url=https://consumerrights.wiki/Minecraft_account_migration |url-status=live |website=Consumer Rights Wiki}}</ref> The product became a license with DRM ~~terminatable~~ anytime by ~~a tech-giant~~.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-30 |title=Microsoft Services Agreement |url=https://www.microsoft.com/servicesagreement |url-status=~~live~~ |website=microsoft.com}}</ref>

After years of changes in the title and content of the terms of use, all the previous buyers who failed to stop accepting updates in time, had to choose between forfeiting the ownership or losing the option to use the software offline.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-18 |title=Minecraft account migration |url=https://consumerrights.wiki/Minecraft_account_migration |url-status=live |access-date= |website=Consumer Rights Wiki}}</ref> The product became a license with DRM that can be terminated at anytime by [[Microsoft]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2024-09-30 |title=Microsoft Services Agreement |url=https://www.microsoft.com/servicesagreement |url-status= |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=microsoft.com}}</ref>

The user side of legal contract to use ~~minecraft~~ at the 2011 full release is called ''“Terms of use” (TOU)''<ref name=":0" /> ,later ''“End-user license agreement” (EULA)''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-18 |title=Minecraft EULA |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/eula |url-status=live |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>, and the changes it went through since 2011, can imply most of the existing [[:Category:Anti-Consumer Practices|anti-consumer practices]], not just consumer ownership rights erosion.

The user side of legal contract to use Minecraft at the 2011 full release is called ''“Terms of use” (TOU)'',<ref name=":0" /> later ''“End-user license agreement” (EULA)'',<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-18 |title=Minecraft EULA |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/eula |url-status=live |website=minecraft.net}}</ref> and the changes it went through since 2011, can imply most of the existing [[:Category:Anti-Consumer Practices|anti-consumer practices]], not just consumer ownership rights erosion.

~~This~~ article ~~is focusing~~ on the ~~oldest running version:~~ Java ~~edition,~~ and ~~the changes in consumer ownership rights in the TOU/EULA from 2011 - 2025~~.

Note: this article focuses on the original Minecraft (Java Edition) and is not relevant to other versions of Minecraft.

==Background==

===Mojang Studios===

~~=== [[Mojang|Mojang Studios]] ===~~

Minecraft is a sandbox game developed and published by Mojang Studios. Formally released on 18 November 2011 for PCs, following its initial public alpha release on 17 May 2009. The first sold version is later designated as Java edition.

The game was downloaded more than ~~100million~~ times before the ~~microsoft purchase~~. -~~guardian~~

The game was downloaded more than 100 million times before Microsoft purchased Mojang AB.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=2014-09-15 |title=Minecraft sold: Microsoft buys Mojang for $2.5bn |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/15/microsoft-buys-minecraft-creator-mojang-for-25bn |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250426211234/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/15/microsoft-buys-minecraft-creator-mojang-for-25bn |archive-date=2025-04-26 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>

===Microsoft===

<blockquote>In 2014, Mojang and the Minecraft intellectual property were purchased by Microsoft for US$2.5 billion.

Minecraft as a multi-platform game is the best-selling video game of all time, with over 350 million copies sold (as of 2025) and 140 million monthly active players (as of 2021)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-18 |title=Wikipedia - Minecraft |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minecraft |url-status=live |website=Wikipedia}}</ref></blockquote>

===Source clarification:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2013-01-13 |title=Mojang Terms and Conditions |url=https://account.mojang.com/terms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827123036/https://account.mojang.com/terms#eula |archive-date=2013-08-27 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2010-12-20 |title=copyright.jsp |url=http://www.minecraft.net/copyright.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221093644/http://www.minecraft.net:80/copyright.jsp |archive-date=2010-12-21 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=support.jsp |url=http://www.minecraft.net/support.js |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725180118/http://www.minecraft.net/support.jsp |archive-date=2010-07-25 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>===

*Minecraft’s TOU/EULA was published as a page on the publisher’s game store site and as a text file in the game directory.

*Earlier verifiable versions of the TOU/ EULA are only available on archived versions of Minecraft’s website, but there were times when multiple TOU/EULA versions were available simultaneously. Exact dates of changes may vary, and the sources should respectively be the earliest or the latest found versions. These changes were mainly announced to the customer upon downloading and installing an update.

*The .txt file changes containing the TOU/EULA, that were downloaded and agreed to by the users with software updates, mostly exist in non-verifiable user directories.

*Minecraft has many versions, editions, websites, shops, on multiple platforms, with two account migrations, with corresponding terms. All changing throughout the years, as in content, in place of publication, and in the usage of dating or version history

===2009-2011 Ownership in Minecraft Alpha and Beta===

The first public version was Java Edition Classic 0.0.11a, an unfinished single player offline usable game, with early codes for multiplayer, and with a separate launcher that was capable of updating the game and the launcher itself.

While under development and before the creation of the TOU, mojang had published its term in support.jsp<ref name=":4" /> or copyright.jsp.<ref name=":3" />

==Timeline of ownership-relevant TOU/EULA changes (2011-2025)==

===2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0===

=== ~~Microsoft~~ ===

====Online store product page information about the software before TOU agreement 2011-09-13 - 2012-08-18:<ref name=":2" />====

~~“In 2014, Mojang and the~~ Minecraft ~~intellectual property were purchased by Microsoft for US$2.5 billion”.-wikipedia~~

<blockquote>Purchase Minecraft

~~“Minecraft as a multi-platform game is the best-selling video game of all time, with over 350 million copies sold~~ (~~as of 2025) and 140 million monthly active players (as of 2021~~)~~”.-wikipedia~~

(...)

~~==[Incident]==~~

Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM.</blockquote>

~~{{Ph-I-I}}~~

===~~[Company]'s response~~===

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====

~~{{Ph~~-I-~~ComR}}~~

The game is in development, but the developer promises free copy of the full game - only before 2013-12<blockquote>What You Get For Purchasing When you purchase Minecraft you do so as is, be it in the early stages of development or already fully released. Subsequent updates are only an added bonus and not a guarantee, as icing on a cake. Purchases during the development of the game are discounted and include the full game upon release.</blockquote>The buyer of the software can use the software<blockquote>USING OUR GAME

You have bought the game so you can use it, yourself, on your computer.</blockquote>Publisher can change the TOU

<blockquote>We reserve the right to change this agreement at any time with or without notice, with immediate and/or retroactive effect. </blockquote>

===2011-2014 Ownership changes in TOU before Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios===

====2012-10-11 The new account.mojang.com site arrives with a set of its own terms<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-06-29 |title=Mojang Terms and Conditions |url=https://account.mojang.com/terms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011213958/https://account.mojang.com/terms |archive-date=2012-10-11 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>====

<blockquote>These terms and conditions incorporates the terms of use for the mojang.com webite, our end user license agreement, our brand and asset usage guidelines, and our privacy policy.</blockquote>These contain parts of the older TOU, but new parts worded for the new accounts and the new website appear. The minectaft.net/terms page with the TOU is also available from the store page until 2013-12-04.<ref name=":8" />

====2013-12-12 The TOU fully merges into the EULA of account.mojang.com with the end of minecraft.net/terms<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=2013-12-04 |title=Minecraft Terms of Use |url=https://minecraft.net/terms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204204127/https://minecraft.net/terms |archive-date=2013-12-04 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref><ref name=":7" />====

Publisher can revoke permission to use the software<blockquote>The permission we give you to use and play our Game can be revoked if you break the terms of this EULA. </blockquote>

====Publisher is the owner of the software====

<blockquote>OWNERSHIP OF OUR GAME AND OTHER THINGS

Although we give you permission to play our Game, we are still the owners of it. We are also the owners of our brands and any content contained in the Game. Therefore, when you pay for our Game, you are buying a permission to play / use our Game in accordance with this EULA - you are not buying the Game itself. The only permissions you have in connection with the Game are the permissions set out in this EULA.</blockquote>

====The users can avoid accepting Eula changes by not accepting software updates====

<blockquote>We may also change this EULA from time to time but those changes will only be effective to the extent that they can legally apply. For example if you only use the Game in single player mode and don‘t use the updates we make available then the old EULA applies but if you do use the updates or use parts of the game that rely on our providing ongoing online services then the new EULA will apply. In that case we may not be able to / don‘t need to tell you about the changes for them to have effect so you should check back here from time to time so you are aware of any changes to the EULA. We‘re not going to be unfair about this though - but sometimes the law changes or someone does something that affects other users of the Game and we therefore need to put a lid on it. </blockquote>

===2014- Ownership in EULA After Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios===

====2015-10-27 The subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-27 |title=account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |url=https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027155030/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2015-10-27 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>====

<blockquote>USING OUR GAME

You have been granted a license to the Game so you can play and use it, yourself, on your devices.</blockquote>

====2020-10 - 2022-08 Mandatory [[Minecraft account migration|account migration]] from Mojang account to Microsoft account with new EULA<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-15 |title=account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |url=https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715120420/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2019-07-15 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>====

Buyers who failed to migrate, but kept their launcher up to date, lost their access to the software.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-08 |title=I DIDN’T Migrate my Minecraft Account - Here’s What Happened |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUFDRAEducI |url-status=live |website=youtube.com}}</ref>

Microsoft Services Agreement also included in minecrafts’ EULA:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-16 |title=Minecraft Community Standards |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/community-standards |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716182927/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/community-standards |archive-date=2019-07-16 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>

<blockquote>b. The software is licensed, not sold, and Microsoft reserves all rights to the software not expressly granted by Microsoft, whether by implication, estoppel, or otherwise.</blockquote><blockquote>The application is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some rights to use the application. If Microsoft disables the ability to use the applications on your devices pursuant to your agreement with Microsoft, any associated license rights will terminate.</blockquote>

====2023-08-02 Removed the information about the option of users avoiding EULA changes by not accepting updates<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-02 |title=minecraft.net/en-us/eula |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/eula |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802210823/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/eula |archive-date=2023-08-02 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>====

<blockquote>We may change this EULA from time to time, if we have reason to, such as changes to our games, our practices, or our legal obligation. But those changes will be effective only to the extent that they can legally apply. In that case we'll inform you of the change before it takes effect, either by posting a notice on our website or by other reasonable means. We're not going to be unfair about this though - but sometimes the law changes or someone does something that affects other users of the game and we therefore need to put a lid on it.</blockquote>

==Numbers of affected users==

===Estimated minimum number of Minecraft Java edition copies sold before ownership changes in the TOU/EULA<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-07-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=http://www.minecraft.net/stats |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724055823/http://www.minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2012-07-24 |website=www.minecraft.net}}</ref>===

{| class="wikitable"

|+

!Date of change

!Copies sold

!Version

!TOU/EULA change

|-

|2012-08

|~ 5million

|

|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”

|-

|2013-06

|~ 10.2 million

|

|before launcher software first includes DRM

|-

|2013-12

|~ 13 million

|

|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher

|-

|2015-10

|~ 20 million

|

|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"

|-

|2016-05

|~ 23 million

|

|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />

|-

|2020-10

|~ 33 million

|

|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement

|}

==Mojang's response==

The publisher reserved these rights by stateing the reservation in the TOU/EULA:

in the first terms:<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>“We reserve the right to change this agreement at any time with or without notice, with immediate and/or retroactive effect.”</blockquote>since 2013-08-27:<ref name=":7" /><blockquote>“The permission we give you to use and play our Game can be revoked if you break the terms of this EULA. “ </blockquote>2013-12 - 2023-18:<ref name=":7" /><blockquote>“We may also change this EULA from time to time but those changes will only be effective to the extent that they can legally apply. For example if you only use the Game in single player mode and don‘t use the updates we make available then the old EULA applies but if you do use the updates or use parts of the game that rely on our providing ongoing online services then the new EULA will apply. In that case we may not be able to / don‘t need to tell you about the changes for them to have effect so you should check back here from time to time so you are aware of any changes to the EULA. We‘re not going to be unfair about this though - but sometimes the law changes or someone does something that affects other users of the Game and we therefore need to put a lid on it. </blockquote>

==Lawsuit==

==See also==

==~~Consumer response~~==

* Block of access by mandatory account migration - [[Minecraft account migration]]

* [[Minecraft enforceing undisclosed server EULA terms|Hidden rules regarding private servers]] - [[Shutting down of community-run Minecraft servers by Mojang]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-03 |title=Suing Minecraft Because They Broke The Law & Pissed Me Off |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5RvoPQZQeM |url-status=live |website=youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-16 |title=We’re Suing Minecraft in a Class Action Lawsuit |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UF_4gZclI |url-status=live |website=youtube.com}}</ref>

* Chat moderation enforcement on private servers and single player mode resulting in unexpected loss of license

* DRM spiked launcher updates - [[Minecraft Beta pre-1.8's lack of authentication]]

* [[Post-purchase EULA modification|Post-purchase retroactive EULA modofication]]

* [[:Category:Feature Ransom|Feature ransom]]

* [[Forced arbitration]]

* [[:Category:License Laundering|License laundering]] - [[License euthanasia]]

* [[:Category:Rights Stripping|Rights Stripping]]

* [[False advertising|False advertisement]]

* Mass personal information acquisition by tech-giant from indie developer with 100 million active users

==References==

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[[Category:Microsoft]]

[[Category:Minecraft]]

[[Category:Mojang]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{StubNotice}}
 {{IncidentCargo
 |Company=Mojang, Microsoft
@@ Line 9: / Line 7: @@
 |ArticleType=Product
 |Type=Terms of Service
-|Description=A game first sold az a DRM-fee product, slowly became a license to a service.
+|Description=A game first sold as a DRM-fee product, slowly became a license to a service.
-}}
+}}[[wikipedia:Minecraft#:~:text=The%20first%20public%20alpha%20build|Minecraft Alpha]] was published and sold by a small developer, advocating for consumer ownership, promising [[Digital Rights Management(DRM)|Digital Rights Management (DRM)]]-free software<ref name=":2">,{{Cite web |date=2011-09-23 |title=Minecraft - About the game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923112156/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2011-09-23 |website=www.minecraft.net}}</ref> free optional updates, and a free copy of the fully released version for every earlier buyer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2011-09-23 |title=Minecraft Terms of Use |url=http://www.minecraft.net/terms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923135753/http://www.minecraft.net/terms |archive-date=2011-09-23 |website=www.minecraft.net}}</ref>
-{{Ph-I-Int}}[[wikipedia:Minecraft#:~:text=The%20first%20public%20alpha%20build|Minecraft Alfa]] was published and sold by a small developer, advocating for consumer ownership, promising [[Digital Rights Management(DRM)]]-free software<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-09-23 |title=Minecraft - About the game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923112156/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2011-09-23 |website=www.minecraft.net}}</ref>, free optional updates, and a free copy of the fully released version for every earlier buyer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2011-09-23 |title=Minecraft Terms of Use |url=http://www.minecraft.net/terms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923135753/http://www.minecraft.net/terms |archive-date=2011-09-23 |website=www.minecraft.net}}</ref>
-After years of changes in the title and content of the terms of use, all the previous buyers who failed to stop accepting updates in time, had to choose between forfeiting the ownership or losing the option to use the software offline.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-18 |title=Minecraft account migration |url=https://consumerrights.wiki/Minecraft_account_migration |url-status=live |website=Consumer Rights Wiki}}</ref> The product became a license with DRM terminatable anytime by a tech-giant.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-30 |title=Microsoft Services Agreement |url=https://www.microsoft.com/servicesagreement |url-status=live |website=microsoft.com}}</ref>
+After years of changes in the title and content of the terms of use, all the previous buyers who failed to stop accepting updates in time, had to choose between forfeiting the ownership or losing the option to use the software offline.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-18 |title=Minecraft account migration |url=https://consumerrights.wiki/Minecraft_account_migration |url-status=live |access-date= |website=Consumer Rights Wiki}}</ref> The product became a license with DRM that can be terminated at anytime by [[Microsoft]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2024-09-30 |title=Microsoft Services Agreement |url=https://www.microsoft.com/servicesagreement |url-status= |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=microsoft.com}}</ref>
-The user side of legal contract to use minecraft at the 2011 full release is called ''“Terms of use” (TOU)''<ref name=":0" /> ,later ''“End-user license agreement” (EULA)''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-18 |title=Minecraft EULA |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/eula |url-status=live |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>, and the changes it went through since 2011, can imply most of the existing [[:Category:Anti-Consumer Practices|anti-consumer practices]], not just consumer ownership rights erosion.
+The user side of legal contract to use Minecraft at the 2011 full release is called ''“Terms of use” (TOU)'',<ref name=":0" /> later ''“End-user license agreement” (EULA)'',<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-18 |title=Minecraft EULA |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/eula |url-status=live |website=minecraft.net}}</ref> and the changes it went through since 2011, can imply most of the existing [[:Category:Anti-Consumer Practices|anti-consumer practices]], not just consumer ownership rights erosion.
-This article is focusing on the oldest running version: Java edition, and the changes in consumer ownership rights in the TOU/EULA from 2011 - 2025.
+Note: this article focuses on the original Minecraft (Java Edition) and is not relevant to other versions of Minecraft.
 ==Background==
-{{Ph-I-B}}
+===Mojang Studios===
+{{Main|Mojang}}
-=== [[Mojang|Mojang Studios]] ===
 Minecraft is a sandbox game developed and published by Mojang Studios. Formally released on 18 November 2011 for PCs, following its initial public alpha release on 17 May 2009. The first sold version is later designated as Java edition.
-The game was downloaded more than 100million times before the microsoft purchase. -guardian
+The game was downloaded more than 100 million times before Microsoft purchased Mojang AB.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=2014-09-15 |title=Minecraft sold: Microsoft buys Mojang for $2.5bn |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/15/microsoft-buys-minecraft-creator-mojang-for-25bn |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250426211234/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/15/microsoft-buys-minecraft-creator-mojang-for-25bn |archive-date=2025-04-26 |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>
+===Microsoft===
+{{Main|Microsoft}}
+<blockquote>In 2014, Mojang and the Minecraft intellectual property were purchased by Microsoft for US$2.5 billion.
+Minecraft as a multi-platform game is the best-selling video game of all time, with over 350 million copies sold (as of 2025) and 140 million monthly active players (as of 2021)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-18 |title=Wikipedia - Minecraft |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minecraft |url-status=live |website=Wikipedia}}</ref></blockquote>
+===Source clarification:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2013-01-13 |title=Mojang Terms and Conditions |url=https://account.mojang.com/terms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827123036/https://account.mojang.com/terms#eula |archive-date=2013-08-27 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2010-12-20 |title=copyright.jsp |url=http://www.minecraft.net/copyright.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221093644/http://www.minecraft.net:80/copyright.jsp |archive-date=2010-12-21 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=support.jsp |url=http://www.minecraft.net/support.js |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725180118/http://www.minecraft.net/support.jsp |archive-date=2010-07-25 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>===
+*Minecraft’s TOU/EULA was published as a page on the publisher’s game store site and as a text file in the game directory.
+*Earlier verifiable versions of the TOU/ EULA are only available on archived versions of Minecraft’s website, but there were times when multiple TOU/EULA versions were available simultaneously. Exact dates of changes may vary, and the sources should respectively be the earliest or the latest found versions. These changes were mainly announced to the customer upon downloading and installing an update.
+*The .txt file changes containing the TOU/EULA, that were downloaded and agreed to by the users with software updates, mostly exist in non-verifiable user directories.
+*Minecraft has many versions, editions, websites, shops, on multiple platforms, with two account migrations, with corresponding terms. All changing throughout the years, as in content, in place of publication, and in the usage of dating or version history
+===2009-2011 Ownership in Minecraft Alpha and Beta===
+The first public version was Java Edition Classic 0.0.11a, an unfinished single player offline usable game, with early codes for multiplayer, and with a separate launcher that was capable of updating the game and the launcher itself.
+While under development and before the creation of the TOU, mojang had published its term in support.jsp<ref name=":4" /> or copyright.jsp.<ref name=":3" />
+==Timeline of ownership-relevant TOU/EULA changes (2011-2025)==
+===2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0===
-=== Microsoft ===
+====Online store product page information about the software before TOU agreement 2011-09-13 - 2012-08-18:<ref name=":2" />====
-“In 2014, Mojang and the Minecraft intellectual property were purchased by Microsoft for US$2.5 billion”.-wikipedia
+<blockquote>Purchase Minecraft
-“Minecraft as a multi-platform game is the best-selling video game of all time, with over 350 million copies sold (as of 2025) and 140 million monthly active players (as of 2021)”.-wikipedia
+(...)
-==[Incident]==
+Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM.</blockquote>
-{{Ph-I-I}}
-===[Company]'s response===
+====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
-{{Ph-I-ComR}}
+The game is in development, but the developer promises free copy of the full game - only before 2013-12<blockquote>What You Get For Purchasing When you purchase Minecraft you do so as is, be it in the early stages of development or already fully released. Subsequent updates are only an added bonus and not a guarantee, as icing on a cake. Purchases during the development of the game are discounted and include the full game upon release.</blockquote>The buyer of the software can use the software<blockquote>USING OUR GAME
+You have bought the game so you can use it, yourself, on your computer.</blockquote>Publisher can change the TOU
+<blockquote>We reserve the right to change this agreement at any time with or without notice, with immediate and/or retroactive effect. </blockquote>
+===2011-2014 Ownership changes in TOU before Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios===
+====2012-10-11 The new account.mojang.com site arrives with a set of its own terms<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-06-29 |title=Mojang Terms and Conditions |url=https://account.mojang.com/terms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011213958/https://account.mojang.com/terms |archive-date=2012-10-11 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>====
+<blockquote>These terms and conditions incorporates the terms of use for the mojang.com webite, our end user license agreement, our brand and asset usage guidelines, and our privacy policy.</blockquote>These contain parts of the older TOU, but new parts worded for the new accounts and the new website appear. The minectaft.net/terms page with the TOU is also available from the store page until 2013-12-04.<ref name=":8" />
+====2013-12-12 The TOU fully merges into the  EULA of account.mojang.com with the end of minecraft.net/terms<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=2013-12-04 |title=Minecraft Terms of Use |url=https://minecraft.net/terms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204204127/https://minecraft.net/terms |archive-date=2013-12-04 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref><ref name=":7" />====
+Publisher can revoke permission to use the software<blockquote>The permission we give you to use and play our Game can be revoked if you break the terms of this EULA. </blockquote>
+====Publisher is the owner of the software====
+<blockquote>OWNERSHIP OF OUR GAME AND OTHER THINGS
+Although we give you permission to play our Game, we are still the owners of it. We are also the owners of our brands and any content contained in the Game. Therefore, when you pay for our Game, you are buying a permission to play / use our Game in accordance with this EULA - you are not buying the Game itself. The only permissions you have in connection with the Game are the permissions set out in this EULA.</blockquote>
+====The users can avoid accepting Eula changes by not accepting software updates====
+<blockquote>We may also change this EULA from time to time but those changes will only be effective to the extent that they can legally apply. For example if you only use the Game in single player mode and don‘t use the updates we make available then the old EULA applies but if you do use the updates or use parts of the game that rely on our providing ongoing online services then the new EULA will apply. In that case we may not be able to / don‘t need to tell you about the changes for them to have effect so you should check back here from time to time so you are aware of any changes to the EULA. We‘re not going to be unfair about this though - but sometimes the law changes or someone does something that affects other users of the Game and we therefore need to put a lid on it. </blockquote>
+===2014-  Ownership in EULA After Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios===
+====2015-10-27 The subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-27 |title=account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |url=https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027155030/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2015-10-27 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>====
+<blockquote>USING OUR GAME
+You have been granted a license to the Game so you can play and use it, yourself, on your devices.</blockquote>
+====2020-10 - 2022-08 Mandatory [[Minecraft account migration|account migration]] from Mojang account to Microsoft account with new EULA<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-15 |title=account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |url=https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715120420/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2019-07-15 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>====
+Buyers who failed to migrate, but kept their launcher up to date, lost their access to the software.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-08 |title=I DIDN’T Migrate my Minecraft Account - Here’s What Happened |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUFDRAEducI |url-status=live |website=youtube.com}}</ref>
+Microsoft Services Agreement also included in minecrafts’ EULA:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-16 |title=Minecraft Community Standards |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/community-standards |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716182927/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/community-standards |archive-date=2019-07-16 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
+<blockquote>b. The software is licensed, not sold, and Microsoft reserves all rights to the software not expressly granted by Microsoft, whether by implication, estoppel, or otherwise.</blockquote><blockquote>The application is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some rights to use the application. If Microsoft disables the ability to use the applications on your devices pursuant to your agreement with Microsoft, any associated license rights will terminate.</blockquote>
+====2023-08-02 Removed the information about the option of users avoiding EULA changes by not accepting updates<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-02 |title=minecraft.net/en-us/eula |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/eula |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802210823/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/eula |archive-date=2023-08-02 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>====
+<blockquote>We may change this EULA from time to time, if we have reason to, such as changes to our games, our practices, or our legal obligation. But those changes will be effective only to the extent that they can legally apply. In that case we'll inform you of the change before it takes effect, either by posting a notice on our website or by other reasonable means. We're not going to be unfair about this though - but sometimes the law changes or someone does something that affects other users of the game and we therefore need to put a lid on it.</blockquote>
+==Numbers of affected users==
+===Estimated minimum number of Minecraft Java edition copies sold before ownership changes in the TOU/EULA<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-07-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=http://www.minecraft.net/stats |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724055823/http://www.minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2012-07-24 |website=www.minecraft.net}}</ref>===
+{| class="wikitable"
+|+
+!Date of change
+!Copies sold
+!Version
+!TOU/EULA change
+|-
+|2012-08
+|~ 5million
+|
+|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
+|-
+|2013-06
+|~ 10.2 million
+|
+|before launcher software first includes DRM
+|-
+|2013-12
+|~ 13 million
+|
+|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
+|-
+|2015-10
+|~ 20 million
+|
+|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
+|-
+|2016-05
+|~ 23 million
+|
+|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
+|-
+|2020-10
+|~ 33 million
+|
+|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
+|}
+==Mojang's response==
+<!-- Reasoning for the publishers right to retroactively change the ownership of the game is the same as for all other retroactive TOU/EULA changes: -->
+<!-- Provide quote here -->
+The publisher reserved these rights by stateing the reservation in the TOU/EULA:
+in the first terms:<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>“We reserve the right to change this agreement at any time with or without notice, with immediate and/or retroactive effect.”</blockquote>since 2013-08-27:<ref name=":7" /><blockquote>“The permission we give you to use and play our Game can be revoked if you break the terms of this EULA. “ </blockquote>2013-12 - 2023-18:<ref name=":7" /><blockquote>“We may also change this EULA from time to time but those changes will only be effective to the extent that they can legally apply. For example if you only use the Game in single player mode and don‘t use the updates we make available then the old EULA applies but if you do use the updates or use parts of the game that rely on our providing ongoing online services then the new EULA will apply. In that case we may not be able to / don‘t need to tell you about the changes for them to have effect so you should check back here from time to time so you are aware of any changes to the EULA. We‘re not going to be unfair about this though - but sometimes the law changes or someone does something that affects other users of the Game and we therefore need to put a lid on it.  </blockquote>
 ==Lawsuit==
 {{Ph-I-L}}
+==See also==
-==Consumer response==
+* Block of access by mandatory account migration - [[Minecraft account migration]]
-{{Ph-I-ConR}}
+* [[Minecraft enforceing undisclosed server EULA terms|Hidden rules regarding private servers]] - [[Shutting down of community-run Minecraft servers by Mojang]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-03 |title=Suing Minecraft Because They Broke The Law & Pissed Me Off |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5RvoPQZQeM |url-status=live |website=youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-16 |title=We’re Suing Minecraft in a Class Action Lawsuit |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UF_4gZclI |url-status=live |website=youtube.com}}</ref>
+* Chat moderation enforcement on private servers and single player mode resulting in unexpected loss of license
+* DRM spiked launcher updates - [[Minecraft Beta pre-1.8's lack of authentication]]
+* [[Post-purchase EULA modification|Post-purchase retroactive EULA modofication]]
+* [[:Category:Feature Ransom|Feature ransom]]
+* [[Forced arbitration]]
+* [[:Category:License Laundering|License laundering]] - [[License euthanasia]]
+* [[:Category:Rights Stripping|Rights Stripping]]
+* [[False advertising|False advertisement]]
+* Mass personal information acquisition by tech-giant from indie developer with 100 million active users
 ==References==
@@ Line 51: / Line 166: @@
 {{Ph-I-C}}
+[[Category:Microsoft]]
+[[Category:Minecraft]]
+[[Category:Mojang]]