Skyblock and the Minecraft Marketplace: A Legal Battle

Discussion in 'News & Announcements' started by Noobcrew, Sep 24, 2024.

  1. Timmut
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    Timmut Well-Known Member

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    gotta love microsoft.
     
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  2. aace_
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    aace_ Active Member

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    go noob! i may not have been here very long (maybe about a year and a half) but im sure you'll win this battle!
     
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  3. MrEPro
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    MrEPro Active Member

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    #FREENOOBCREW!
     
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  4. needtorename
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    needtorename Content Creator Premium

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    Ngl skyblock was a big part of my childhood, you deserve the best and rights on this
     
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  5. KhalDrogo
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    KhalDrogo Senior Member

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    Noobcrew. Would it be an option to tackle one of the smaller servers initially rather than all 12 at once.
    Any success there might serve as a precedent to make the larger fight easier?
     
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    Last edited: Sep 26, 2024
  6. CraftWithAbbie
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    CraftWithAbbie Active Member

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    This sounds logical, little steps fast add up to larger sprints. Winning one battle may well be the stepping stones to win over the others too. Best of luck
     
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  7. Pillow
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    Pillow blanky Premium

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    I'm of the understanding it's that the companies are the ones opposing the Mark, not Skyblock. Skyblock is defending here.
     
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  8. bERYbERRY
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    bERYbERRY c000000000000000kies Builder Premium

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    Love you Crew

    Thank you for creating Skyblock and all the fun I had during my childhood from it

    Hope you win the case or whatever it is and sue them for 1$ Trillion dollars amen to that.
    ❤️❤️❤️
     
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  9. Bdarkslayer
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    Bdarkslayer Experienced Member

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    This is my understanding as well.
     
  10. KhalDrogo
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    KhalDrogo Senior Member

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    Yeah. I see that now.
     
  11. xphstos37
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    xphstos37 Experienced Member

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    Noob, I had no idea you were going through all this and feel absolutely awful for you. Tell us if there is any way we can help.
    Maybe people can post this on Reddit, YouTube and other places and we can make more people aware of the situation and raise a stink. Would this help?
    Also, let the 50% off sale go a bit longer, might get some extra money in that way!
    We are rooting for you and support your fight 100%.
     
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  12. HolyChickenStrip
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    HolyChickenStrip Active Member

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    Too long, didn't read all. Court Case?
    [​IMG]
     
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  13. 0cultado
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    0cultado Member

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    Skyblock maps have always been my childhood dreams of minecraft where I never got bored. I didn't knew who created it until I recently started playing this server, but I'm absolutely mad at this greed everywhere. It's revolting how this world has come to, and I'm sorry for the current situation you're going on. Unfortunately, I can't help you much besides keep playing on this server and commenting on these forums, but either way, I guess microsoft will always have the upper hand on the matter.
    Thank you for enlightening us on this matter, I had no idea of how many kids played bedrock and how you actually had power over the "skyblock" concept these years! I can only hope the best of luck and hope to see you around more often!
     
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  14. KhalDrogo
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    KhalDrogo Senior Member

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    Noobcrew. You and your lawyers have probably looked into it but are there other precedents similar to your case.

    There are a number of Prison Break servers on the market place, That too would have originally been the creation of one person.

    'Hunger games' is used as a fairly generic term in Minecraft, possibly more so than Skyblock, but searching that in the Minecraft Market place doesn't come up with any hits.

    There are other servers in the marketplace using names that would clearly be trademarked like Sonic the Hedgehog, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Turtles, etc. I wonder if they are paying royalties, or if they've sort approval, or if they've just gone unnoticed.
     
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  15. Noobcrew
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    Noobcrew Server Owner Server Owner Administrator

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    Thank you again everyone for your support, I can't respond to all messages but I do read them and greatly appreciate it! :heartface:

    As this is public information, there is nothing wrong for anyone that wishes to exercise their right to freedom of speech and help make all of this more known through other platforms. :)
     
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  16. KhalDrogo
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    KhalDrogo Senior Member

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    This link conveniently invites discussion. Although maybe not seen by too many here as there's only one comment so far ;).
    I had to laugh at the Minecraft trailer linked on this page. Most of the comments shoot down the marketplace

    #NoobcrewIsSkyblock
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2024
  17. Noobcrew
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    Noobcrew Server Owner Server Owner Administrator

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    Yup, even if you look at the "original" Skyblock content posted on the Minecraft Marketplace, and view the comments on their YouTube trailers, you'll see many comments mentioning how it is in fact not original. Of course, there are a lot of individuals unaware of this type of stuff, for such a large platform like the Minecraft Marketplace that is owned by Microsoft/Mojang, players just accept what is published without thinking much of it.

    You'll usually see players actively voice their opinions about the Marketplace on sites such as Reddit, here is the link to what I have mentioned regarding the Aether.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/164485m/why_does_mojang_allow_this_its_literally_an

    In the comments, you'll find a response from kingbdogz, one of the original creators of the Aether, who expressed his concerns about how the "Aether Dimension" name was used by a different company within the Minecraft Marketplace. It was eventually changed to "Ether Dimension", which he felt was sufficient.

    As with kingbdogz, I have no issue with others drawing inspiration from Skyblock, even if they create something nearly identical with a similar name. However, when a company outright takes the name and markets it as "original" for a paid product, it's a deliberate attempt to exploit and profit from someone else's work.
     
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  18. Noobcrew
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    Noobcrew Server Owner Server Owner Administrator

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    I believe it is acceptable for freely available multiplayer servers to use the Skyblock name in Minecraft. Since I've always offered Skyblock for free, it wouldn't make sense to restrict those who want to share the experience and allow others to enjoy playing together on the platform it was originally created for.

    I'm considering this purely in the context of how Skyblock was originally intended, not in relation to our own multiplayer servers.

    My main concerns are focused on the use of the "Skyblock" name outside of Minecraft and within the Minecraft Marketplace.

    Just as Microsoft/Mojang frequently updates their guidelines on what is allowed or not, I have adapted my own stance as the game has evolved. A clear example of Microsoft/Mojang altering their guidelines occurred last year with my alternative server, "Mineverse".

    We were blacklisted for using a "Creeper Face" image on our store, which is copyright protected. Although we eventually removed it, I can assure you that for the previous decade, using any form of the "Creeper Face" image was widely considered acceptable. Given that the server now receives minimal traffic, it’s evident that Mojang's enforcement team was specifically searching for such infringements. With the upcoming release of the Minecraft movie, it makes sense now, as the "Creeper Face" has become prominently featured, including on the movie's cover art.

    In a similar situation, I had no issue with any "Skyblock"-named content within Minecraft before the introduction of the Minecraft Marketplace, as my content was not directly replicated and sold prior to its launch. Just because I didn’t enforce restrictions in the past—much like Microsoft/Mojang didn’t initially enforce restrictions on the use of the "Creeper Face" image—doesn’t mean that its use should be permitted in any form that is deemed unacceptable now. However, unlike in my case, no one would ever dare to challenge Microsoft's changes to their guidelines.

    In regards to the server you mentioned, you are right that the server is not following the EULA by promoting themselves in that manner. To be honest, if they want to make that claim they are only discrediting themselves as any individual can do a quick Google search and see that their claims are not true. This is something that Mojang's enforcement can deal with rather than myself.

    You've made a strong point.

    Many third-party Minecraft servers do utilize names like "Hunger Games," "Grand Theft Auto," "Call of Duty," "DayZ," and others, all of which are derived from well-known games, books, or other media. Despite this, these names continue to be permitted within the Minecraft community.

    Microsoft/Mojang have always had a hands-off approach, allowing these names to exist. If "Hunger Games," arguably one of the most prevalent names used in Minecraft, isn't removed or challenged by either Microsoft or its original creators, it raises the question of why "Skyblock" would be treated as generic when these other names aren't.

    The only notable instance I can think of where a major company took action was when Pokémon intervened to shut down the Pixelmon mod in 2017. However, even after its closure, numerous iterations have since emerged, underscoring the inconsistency in enforcement.

    You'll never find this type of content on the Minecraft Marketplace unless it's been approved by the original creators or through a licensing agreement. For example, content like Sonic the Hedgehog is without a doubt authorized by the creators or company that owns the rights to Sonic, either directly or through a licensing deal.

    In the timeline of events I have documented, I made efforts from the very beginning to prevent Skyblock from being used on the Minecraft Marketplace. However, as an individual without the backing of a large company, I was simply disregarded. Instead, Microsoft went out of its way to allow "Skyblock" named content to be published, established "SkyBlock" as its own category, and released "officially" branded Skyblock content without my approval.
     
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  19. Quoken
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    Goodluck. :thumbsup:
    May our money be put into good use.
     
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  20. GAMER1232012
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    GAMER1232012 Well-Known Member

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    Wow I can't believe they're suing a 12 year old, right after his birthday too ;( good luck Noobcrew and thank you for fighting for our community. May the guiding light of the pickaxe sheep illuminate your way :blobkiss:

    P.S: If you need more legal funds, add donor500 back for a limited time wink wink
     
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