Hello everyone,

I’m writing today to bring attention to a matter that has impacted me for quite some time. It’s a situation that I believe deserves broader awareness, particularly concerning what I see as unethical and monopolistic practices within the Minecraft Marketplace. My intention is not to incite conflict with Microsoft, Mojang, or major Minecraft companies, but to highlight what I believe are significant injustices regarding user-generated content on Minecraft and to share details of an ongoing legal dispute that I feel the community should be informed about.

For nearly four years, I have been engaged in a legal conflict with Microsoft and eleven other Minecraft related companies who aim to invalidate my intellectual property and exclusive trademark rights to Skyblock.

The companies involved include: Microsoft, Razzleberries AB, Sapphire Studios LLC, Aurrora Limited, Easy Games, Inc., Jigarbov Productions Inc., King Cube LTD, Ziax Ltd, ReWrite Media, Inc., Mineplex LLC, Hydreon Corporation, and Spark Squared GmbH.

These companies collaboratively insist that “Skyblock” is now considered a generic term, used to describe any virtual game featuring a “block in the sky” or “floating island” environment. As a result, they argue that I should lose all intellectual property and exclusive U.S trademark rights to the name.

I view these claims as a deliberate attempt to undermine the originality of my creation, so that the involved companies can continue to profit from their own Skyblock content currently provided on the Minecraft Marketplace. Skyblock has been intentionally replicated, deliberately branded as “Skyblock”, with no secondary meaning, and marketed or described as “Original” within the Minecraft Marketplace without my permission. These so-called "original" Skyblock worlds have generated revenues ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars each, with Microsoft taking a substantial share. This is a direct exploitation of the success of the original Skyblock worlds, which have accumulated over 12+ million downloads since I first offered them for free in 2011. The companies profiting the most are of course the very ones actively working to undermine my rights.

In late 2019, I became aware of these issues and formally filed for a U.S trademark on the name of “Skyblock” to further protect my digital content and intellectual rights. During this time and throughout 2020, I requested the removal of “Skyblock” named content published on the Minecraft Marketplace, but my appeals were consistently disregarded by Microsoft’s copyright removal department. Instead, I was met with legal opposition to my trademark on New Year’s Day of 2021 and have been fighting it ever since.

Skyblock originated from my own ideas—a unique concept I envisioned, created, and freely shared with the Minecraft community. Far more than just a "block in the sky," Skyblock incorporates strategic gameplay, minimalism, and challenging elements that I meticulously designed as integral components of its success. Over the years, nearly every prominent Minecraft YouTuber has showcased the original and iconic Skyblock worlds in their videos, collectively amassing billions of views. This widespread recognition underscores that Skyblock is not merely a generic term for any floating island game but represents a highly popular and specific piece of content that millions of players recognize.

I have dedicated over a decade of my life to providing Skyblock, establishing a safe platform where millions of Minecraft Java players can freely download its four variations. In 2012, I created the first Skyblock multiplayer servers and our community forums, which played a significant role in its rise to popularity. As the official source, I have spent the past twelve years building a brand as much as any other Minecraft-related company, content creator, or multiplayer network.

When it comes to third-party content related to Skyblock, I have always supported the free use of the "Skyblock" name across the Minecraft platform. The game's collaborative nature is embodied in inspired worlds, multiplayer servers, mods, and other user-generated content. Minecraft operates within a relatively open system where community-driven innovation is encouraged. Issuing cease and desist orders to those who wished to create and share their own inspired versions of Skyblock on platforms like Planet Minecraft, or targeting competing multiplayer servers like Hypixel, would have gone against the very essence of Minecraft and its community. Yet surprisingly, my decision not to take such actions has become one of the primary arguments used against me and serves as Microsoft's main defense.

Minecraft, as a platform, thrives on creativity and has long depended on third-party content to enrich the player experience. However, through my own experiences, it appears that the game has increasingly shifted its focus towards prioritizing their exclusive partners and monetizing content through the Minecraft Marketplace, often at the expense of the free and collaborative spirit that once defined the Minecraft community. Content sold on the Minecraft Marketplace and content available elsewhere within Minecraft belong to two entirely different categories, and creators deserve the right to protect their work, no matter where it is shared. It’s clear that some companies are exploiting Minecraft's open nature to sell content they didn’t create without facing any consequences.

Despite my significant contributions spanning over more than a decade, my inability to claim rights to what I've created raises serious concerns about the implications for others. The only ownership I can claim is the name "Skyblock" itself and this situation highlights the precarious position of creators on the platform, where the very name of their creation—often the only thing they can legally protect—can be challenged and potentially stripped away. If this can happen in my case, it sets a troubling issue for smaller creators who may face similar struggles in defending their original content and showcases an example of just how little ownership any creator truly has on the Minecraft platform. It also demonstrates that if you innovate and create something truly unique that gains popularity, larger Minecraft affiliated companies will quickly replicate it, work together to suppress your efforts, and capitalize on your creation through the Minecraft Marketplace.

This tactic of labeling content as generic can be employed against other creators, effectively blocking them from taking action if their work is replicated and profitably commercialized. Microsoft should serve as a mediator to resolve such disputes, but in my case, they have disregarded my concerns while allowing and protecting those involved in the infringement. In contrast, platforms like Roblox, Fortnite, and Apple have addressed my requests to remove or rename Skyblock-replicated content or apps without any hesitation.

This issue of replication has not only affected Skyblock but has repeatedly surfaced with other creations as well. Notable examples include The Aether and the Faithful Texture Pack, which were copied and sold on the Minecraft Marketplace without permission from their original creators. Despite the fact that the creator of The Aether has been a Mojang employee for several years, Microsoft took no action in either case. It was only after backlash from the Reddit community that the companies involved either removed or renamed their content. Even now, the knockoff version of The Aether remains, simply rebranded as "The Ether."

The underlying problem here lies in the way the Minecraft Marketplace was designed. It was built to capitalize on trends, which, in my view, encourages many creators to replicate popular content or well-known names to exploit search-driven results. This system inherently rewards imitation over originality. The platform, introduced years after both Minecraft and Skyblock, goes against many of the principles held by Minecraft's original community and creators.

While the Marketplace does offer opportunities for creators to profit, access is limited to exclusive partners and established teams. The application process is extensive and rarely open, leaving smaller creators with little chance to participate, and those without a proven track record or formal company are often excluded. I’ve personally joined a team as a builder, and they’ve allowed me to create Skyblock in its original form for Bedrock within the Marketplace. However, this was a process that took years, and I was effectively ostracized by many prominent publishers before I could do so.

My stance isn’t against all Marketplace teams. There are many talented individuals and reputable companies doing incredible work, but, as with any industry, there are always those large entities or individuals that will do anything necessary and without morals to make a profit. The fact that this legal battle against me could have been avoided if the companies involved had simply agreed to rename their content from “Skyblock” directly or to stop falsely promoting it as "Original" shows their true intentions.

To clarify, I do not claim ownership over the concept of a “floating island” game, I did not create this idea. The content that I believe infringes on what I developed wouldn’t have to be removed, nor would their gameplay need to change, as long as this content was no longer misleading consumers into thinking it is an original “Skyblock” product. Renaming is a simple change and can be made at any time. These companies know very well however that changing the name or removing terms like “Original” or misleading descriptions such as “The one and only Skyblock experience” would prevent confusion among Bedrock players specifically searching for the original Skyblock worlds from Java, and lead to a drop in sales. Those involved are fully aware of my requests and thoughts on this matter. They are aware of the implications of what they produced and how it affects what I created.

I've proposed several agreements over the years to resolve this dispute, including permitting "Skyblock"-named content to remain on the Minecraft Marketplace, provided it carries a secondary meaning and isn't marketed as original. I also offered legal terms to safeguard and protect the "Skyblock" name for multiplayer servers and other freely accessible Minecraft content. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, each proposal has been rejected.

The imbalance is clear—facing twelve companies in a legal battle as a single individual illustrates a situation where the outcome seems determined by who has the most time and financial resources to endure litigation, putting me at a significant disadvantage. They have little regard for my perspective, seeing me as insignificant. They understand that with enough time and resources, they can do whatever it takes to secure their success, and if they fail, they can simply appeal the decision, restarting the entire process and extending it for years to come.

It genuinely feels as though I’ve committed a crime. I've been forced to provide countless confidential and personal documents, endure a grueling seven-hour deposition that felt more like an interrogation, and spend tens of thousands of dollars on legal representation. There are no consequences for the companies involved if their accusations prove false, yet I'm compelled to go through this ordeal, with any failure to comply resulting in an immediate loss of my rights. The ongoing strain and hardship have taken a significant toll on me. I want to move on with my life, and there are far more constructive ways to resolve this than through such invasive litigation. All I did here was create a popular Minecraft map when I was 15 years old, and now I’m facing all this unwarranted turmoil just to protect my rightful ownership.

Skyblock is a significant part of my life, and I believe I deserve the fundamental right to protect the name of what I created and to explore opportunities beyond the Minecraft game if I choose to. My goal is to expand Skyblock into something even bigger, and my dream is to one day develop it as a standalone game. It’s incredibly important because it represents everything I’ve built and has evolved alongside me. I believe Skyblock holds a sense of nostalgia and has become a part of the memories and past for many others as well. I want to protect its legacy and help evolve it into something more.

If I lose this case, I have zero ownership to the “Skyblock” name and risk losing all rights to everything I’ve created and any future plans for Skyblock. I refuse to continue providing downloadable content that I do not fully own. I will only continue to offer our multiplayer servers because I deeply appreciate the supportive community that has stood by me all these years. This post was incredibly difficult to write, and I’m fully aware of the potential consequences for my legal case, but I can no longer remain silent. Whether it makes a difference or not, I felt it was important to share this.

Thank you for reading.

 

-- Additional Information --

Quick timeline of important events:

• Sept. 4th, 2011 - Release of Skyblock. (1)
  
  
• Sept. 15th, 2014 - Acquisition of Minecraft by Microsoft.
  
  
• June 1st, 2017 - Release of Minecraft Marketplace.
  
  
• Aug. 21st, 2019 - First "Skyblock" named content for sale on the Minecraft Marketplace. (2) (Razzleberries)
  
  
• Sept. 2nd, 2019 - I started the process for the trademark of "Skyblock".
  
  
• Sept. 5th, 2019 - Second "Skyblock" named content for sale on the Minecraft Marketplace (2) (Sapphire Studios)
  
  
• Nov. 20th, 2019 - I signed the application for the "Skyblock" trademark.
  
  
• July 14th, 2020 - My requests for the removal/name change of a "Skyblock" named world with 40,000 active players on Roblox was accepted. This was eventually changed to "Islands" and I personally communicated with the owner and expedited the process for their world to become quickly re-instated the next day. The company involved is "Easy Games, Inc" and is a party opposing my rights however.
  
  
• Sept. 11th, 2020 - I have sent numerous DMCA reports through Microsoft's official forms throughout 2020 to remove/re-name the "Skyblock" named content on the Minecraft Marketplace I had concerns of. All of my requests were ignored except for a single response of them mentioning, "We do not see a valid claim and we are closing this matter". All requests I sent thereafter was never responded to.
  
  
• Sept. 24th, 2020 - The trademark I applied for was initially blocked by a different "Skyblock" trademark owned by a company out in China. They established a "Skyblock" trademark on June 2nd, 2015 for their "Skyblock" iOS app which was identical and based off "Skyblock" that I created. After months of communicating with them, they agreed to assign the trademark over to my company. After this occurred my initial trademark was approved to move forward.
  
  
• Oct. 16th, 2020 - I did apply for a trademark on "SkyWars" at this time. While I did not create "Skyblock Warriors" (by Swipeshot on Mar. 24th, 2013), which it originally was named, I did coin the term "SkyWars" as a shortened variation. I purchased the "skywars.com" domain on Aug. 29th, 2013. However, I do believe "SkyWars" itself was never known for a specific piece of downloadable content that the collective community is aware of. Therefore I eventually cancelled this mark.
  
  
• Jan. 1st, 2021 - The initial trademark I applied for in Nov. 2019 was opposed by the companies involved for being generic just days before it were to be accepted. Still to this day, and throughout the years, it is still in a "Pending" state. I have been required to provide notarized documents and other information in order to combat the generic claims since then.
  
  
• ?.?.2022 - Microsoft designates "SkyBlock" as a category on the Minecraft Marketplace during this year. It is crucial to note, that despite a decision having yet to be made on whether or not Skyblock is in fact generic, Microsoft utilizes its very platform to promote that it is generic. This should be viewed as a strategic attempt to erode the distinctiveness of the Skyblock name while a decision is pending. This is to influence public perception, weaken my trademark claim, and the eventual legal outcome. This behavior should fall under unfair competition, misrepresentation, deceptive business practices, and bad faith.
  
  
• Jan. 12th, 2022 - Microsoft releases an "official" Skyblock Bundle on the Minecraft Marketplace for $15 or 2610 minecoins. (3)
  
  
• Apr. 22, 2022 - Due to the opposition by Microsoft and companies, I cancelled the primary "Skyblock" trademark (originally owned by the company in China) to have all legal focus on the initial trademark I applied for in 2019. Litigation is expensive and Microsoft and the other companies were effectively fighting both trademarks, so I reduced it to one.
  
  
• Nov 22nd, 2023 - My request for the removal/name change of a "Skyblock" named world with 20,000 active players on Fortnite was approved. I communicated with the owner and they changed the name of their content. Their content was soon re-instated.
  
  
• Dec. 21st, 2023 - I was required to attend a seven-hour virtual deposition with Microsoft's legal team, as well as the lawyers representing the other involved companies. While under oath and on record, I was required to answer all questions poised by their legal teams. As is typical in deposition proceedings, the questioning was thorough and seemed intended to extract any information that might support their case.
  
  
• Sept. 24th, 2024 - I have posted this thread to document this legal issue. The company names I have mentioned and anything relating are publicly available information. My concerns of the Minecraft Marketplace are that of my opinion and personal experience.

The content from the Minecraft Marketplace that I believe infringes on what I created are shown below in the spoiler, some are provided by the companies against me, and some are unrelated companies. There is a trend here however on those that I feel take advantage of the original Skyblock worlds.

References:
- (1) https://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/mapping-and-modding-java-edition/maps/1473433-surv-skyblock
(My original publication of "Skyblock" on the Minecraft Forums. This is evident proof of myself creating and providing "Skyblock" on September 4th, 2011. This thread has over 400 pages of comments.)

- (2) Home | MinecraftPal, Minecraft Marketplace Partners - Minecraft Marketplace (via bedrockexplorer.com), https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/marketplace
(Data and information regarding Minecraft Marketplace content)

- (3) https://www.sportskeeda.com/minecraft/news-minecraft-marketplace-unveils-new-content-accompanying-trailer
(Information regarding Microsoft's "official" Skyblock Bundle)

Read my response to a few common concerns:

Skyblock and the Minecraft Marketplace: A Legal Battle | Page 20 | Skyblock Official Site

Want to help support?

Please consider signing our Protect Skyblock - Petiton

 

This is so unfortunate and unfair to you, they're diminishing your hard work and your creation. We support you !

 

Crew, you are awesome and very much appreciated/ loved. I'm telling you, so you are aware of this fact and I think this is important to know in times like these.

You brought so much joy to the minecraft community with this seemingly simpe creation of yours and its super sad to see at the reseving end of big companies goinge against small ppl just because they have the resources to do so. I wish you all the best for this battle and assure you that we as the skyblock community stand behind you to cheer you on. We might not be able to help fighting but every good DnD/RPG groub needs some sort of support class to help the DDs in the front line, so here we are as an emotional support cheering you on in hopes you win our battle

 

David vs Goliath.

There’s an amazing community backing you with this. You’ve got this

 

I have provided more information in a post under the thread.

I am trying to be as transparent as possible here, thank you everyone for your kind words and support!

 

you know your amazing community will always have your back, rooting for you in every step you make