Skyblock and the Minecraft Marketplace: A Legal Battle

Chase Harshman · Oct 21, 2024

I truly believe the fact that Microsoft is fighting against your trademark on something that you have put years of your life into building is absurd and totally unacceptable… I wish you the best of luck noobcrew!

Clem4096 · Oct 21, 2024

Just wanted to show some support

Himbus · Oct 21, 2024

Don't give up on the legal battle, this map was created by you, not Microsoft and others.

CAMMX9 · Oct 21, 2024

I really hope you win this case, i think its really stupid for a huge company to just take someone's creation just for more money

tatagui · Oct 21, 2024

I wish you best of luck to fight those greedy awful companies... mind boggling

Zaroko · Oct 21, 2024

Noobcrew said: ↑

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.
Click to expand...

This situation is insane, we can't let the corpos win.

Devil · Oct 21, 2024

i saw a few comments mentioning PhoenixSC, so for anyone else who does too and is curious on who that is, here is the video:
PhoenixSC's Video

MMinecraft9483 · Oct 21, 2024

I cannot believe that what you have worked so hard on over the past decade is now being taken from you. I hope very much that you win this legal battle. This is NOT ok!

Gangster_Alpaca · Oct 21, 2024

PhooeenixSC

Yazgueg · Oct 21, 2024

wishing the very best outcome for you

Aerdo · Oct 21, 2024

idk if it helps, but I wanted to wish you all the best and good luck in your fight

Ibra · Oct 21, 2024

Noobcrew said: ↑

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.
Click to expand...

Hey!!! I played SkyBlock as a kid. Its the OG game. I will be voting for you.

Tubaramte · Oct 21, 2024

Good luck Noobcrew, came bc of Phoenix SC

Keaton42 · Oct 21, 2024

I legitimately hope you the very best, this is awful to hear and you should be entitled for the name of your beloved creation.

Yyeman · Oct 21, 2024

You deserve to win. c:

dBone · Oct 21, 2024

o7 You helped shape a part of all our childhoods! good luck Noobcrew

Quinelato · Oct 21, 2024

Wishing the best to you guys!

Yuri_G · Oct 21, 2024

it is YOUR work made by YOU and I hope the truth will win over the money

mastery · Oct 21, 2024

am on your side

Saxolotl · Oct 21, 2024

If there is any ways of being able to support this venture further let us all know!

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Skyblock and the Minecraft Marketplace: A Legal Battle

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