Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Talk:Minecraft account migration

2025-11-23T20:27:56Z

Szaty: /* Not the first time Minecraft required "migration" (Minecraft -> Mojang -> Microsoft) */ Reply

Below is an email received from Mojang support on 16th July 2023, along with the original refund request.

Basil T. (Minecraft Help)

Jul 16, 2023, 6:56 AM PDT

Hey there,

Thank you for reaching out to us.

We understand that the migration from Mojang to Microsoft accounts is a big change, but we promise it comes with the best intentions. This migration is intended to benefit the Minecraft community by adding new features such as increased account security via 2FA, invite/chat blocking, and updated parental control options. Rest assured that nothing will change about the game except the method you use to log in.

However, '''migration is mandatory to continue playing Minecraft: Java Edition, including access to Realms.''' If you choose not to migrate to Microsoft, you will not be able to play Minecraft or extend, renew, or purchase a Java Realms subscription until you have successfully migrated. If you'd like additional information regarding Mojang's terms or licensing policies, please view our [https://web.archive.org/web/20230701163411/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/eula End User Licensing Agreement] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20230714154640/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/terms Terms of Service].

You can check out our [https://web.archive.org/web/20230610221508/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/360050865492-Minecraft-Java-Edition-Account-Migration-FAQ migration FAQ] or [https://web.archive.org/web/20230918190107/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4403178607373 Microsoft Account Migration Issues] article for additional information about migrating to a Microsoft account, and the following walkthroughs will provide detailed instructions to get you moved over depending on which account type you currently use:

[https://web.archive.org/web/20230610223116/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4411173197709-How-to-Migrate-a-Legacy-Minecraft-Account-to-a-Microsoft-Account- How to Migrate a Legacy Minecraft Account]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220524050225/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4403192913933-How-to-Migrate-Your-Child-s-Mojang-Account-to-a-Microsoft-Account-Instructions-for-Parent-Guardian- How to Migrate a Child’s Mojang Account]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20230610205548/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4403181904525-How-to-Migrate-Your-Mojang-Account-to-a-Microsoft-Account How to Migrate a Mojang Account]

If there is anything else we can do to assist you with your migration, please let us know.

Basil T.

[Name Redacted]

Jul 15, 2023, 12:09 AM PDT

I purchased Java edition on the 24th of May, 2011.

In february last year I started getting messages about needing a Microsoft account to be able to continue playing the game after September 2023, which was not included in the terms laid out to me at the time of purchase.

I do not want to create a Microsoft account, and as such I would lose access to the product I paid for.

Even though the amount of money in discussion is insignificant to both parties, this is a question of principle. I consider taking away the right to use a product which I paid money for, without committing any violation of the product's terms of service, a gross violation of the concept of consumer ownership and outright theft.

Granted, Minecraft is an old game, but all of the other 10+year-old games I own still work fine.

I would understand if using the game's online features would require a Microsoft account but why I would need to login to play only singleplayer is beyond me.

If this is how modern companies treat their paying customers, then I am happy that the few euros I paid for the game is all the money you ever got from me.

==Not the first time Minecraft required "migration" (Minecraft -> Mojang -> Microsoft)==

When Minecraft first launched, they were simply Minecraft accounts. Login with username and password. Then around 2012 or 2013? pre-Microsoft acquisition they started to pest people to migrate their accounts to "Mojang accounts", login with email address. There weren't any exclusive benefits to this like capes iirc, they just made it sound like it was "more secure" or something and put massive notifications in the launcher

They kept legacy accounts still usable for a long time, though finding exact dates and references will be real hard cause of the microsoft migration stuff. [[User:Water316|Water316]] ([[User talk:Water316|talk]]) 19:19, 17 August 2025 (UTC)

:I got stuck looking for the launcher update corresponding to the first migration. It was likely the point DRM got into the new launcher. version. Cant find evidence.
:Other than this, if im correct, this 1. migration was only a nice next step to the mutiplayer part of the game, so Im not sure if it only needs a mention, or more. [[User:Szaty|Szaty]] ([[User talk:Szaty|talk]]) 20:27, 23 November 2025 (UTC)

==disagree modifcation==

"Any game progress, including purchased first and third party in-game items were lost." - deleted

<bdi>"[https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Minecraft_account_migration&oldid=27335 2025-10-17T20:26:33]</bdi> [[User:Ervo|<bdi>Ervo</bdi>]] [[User talk:Ervo|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/Ervo|contribs]] 7,945 bytes −88 Minecraft doesn't have microtransactions and all progress is saved locally, so it's impossible to lose "any game progress" for not migrating, nor "purchased first party in-game items" because nothing like that exists in Minecraft. Third-party in-game items, on the other hand, rely on the corresponding third-party servers, and they are responsible for managing user IDs (which did not change after the migration), so any missing items are the sole responsibility of those server administrators."

1, MInecraft have transactions, user could buy many games, and versions. By loosing an account a user had lost ALL ACCESS to all bought games.

2, If the customer updated the client until end of acc migration, the launcher stoped working offline, the customer lost access to the whole software, the account name, and the ability to launch the game.

3, if the customer looses the ability to launch the game, or to dowload an earlyer version, that means "Any game progress, including purchased first and third party in-game items were lost." is true. [[User:Szaty|Szaty]] ([[User talk:Szaty|talk]]) 09:47, 17 November 2025 (UTC)

Talk:Minecraft account migration

2025-11-17T09:48:24Z

Szaty: /* disagree modifcation */

Below is an email received from Mojang support on 16th July 2023, along with the original refund request.

Basil T. (Minecraft Help)

Jul 16, 2023, 6:56 AM PDT

Hey there,

Thank you for reaching out to us.

We understand that the migration from Mojang to Microsoft accounts is a big change, but we promise it comes with the best intentions. This migration is intended to benefit the Minecraft community by adding new features such as increased account security via 2FA, invite/chat blocking, and updated parental control options. Rest assured that nothing will change about the game except the method you use to log in.

However, '''migration is mandatory to continue playing Minecraft: Java Edition, including access to Realms.''' If you choose not to migrate to Microsoft, you will not be able to play Minecraft or extend, renew, or purchase a Java Realms subscription until you have successfully migrated. If you'd like additional information regarding Mojang's terms or licensing policies, please view our [https://web.archive.org/web/20230701163411/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/eula End User Licensing Agreement] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20230714154640/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/terms Terms of Service].

You can check out our [https://web.archive.org/web/20230610221508/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/360050865492-Minecraft-Java-Edition-Account-Migration-FAQ migration FAQ] or [https://web.archive.org/web/20230918190107/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4403178607373 Microsoft Account Migration Issues] article for additional information about migrating to a Microsoft account, and the following walkthroughs will provide detailed instructions to get you moved over depending on which account type you currently use:

[https://web.archive.org/web/20230610223116/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4411173197709-How-to-Migrate-a-Legacy-Minecraft-Account-to-a-Microsoft-Account- How to Migrate a Legacy Minecraft Account]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220524050225/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4403192913933-How-to-Migrate-Your-Child-s-Mojang-Account-to-a-Microsoft-Account-Instructions-for-Parent-Guardian- How to Migrate a Child’s Mojang Account]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20230610205548/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4403181904525-How-to-Migrate-Your-Mojang-Account-to-a-Microsoft-Account How to Migrate a Mojang Account]

If there is anything else we can do to assist you with your migration, please let us know.

Basil T.

[Name Redacted]

Jul 15, 2023, 12:09 AM PDT

I purchased Java edition on the 24th of May, 2011.

In february last year I started getting messages about needing a Microsoft account to be able to continue playing the game after September 2023, which was not included in the terms laid out to me at the time of purchase.

I do not want to create a Microsoft account, and as such I would lose access to the product I paid for.

Even though the amount of money in discussion is insignificant to both parties, this is a question of principle. I consider taking away the right to use a product which I paid money for, without committing any violation of the product's terms of service, a gross violation of the concept of consumer ownership and outright theft.

Granted, Minecraft is an old game, but all of the other 10+year-old games I own still work fine.

I would understand if using the game's online features would require a Microsoft account but why I would need to login to play only singleplayer is beyond me.

If this is how modern companies treat their paying customers, then I am happy that the few euros I paid for the game is all the money you ever got from me.

== Not the first time Minecraft required "migration" (Minecraft -> Mojang -> Microsoft) ==

When Minecraft first launched, they were simply Minecraft accounts. Login with username and password. Then around 2012 or 2013? pre-Microsoft acquisition they started to pest people to migrate their accounts to "Mojang accounts", login with email address. There weren't any exclusive benefits to this like capes iirc, they just made it sound like it was "more secure" or something and put massive notifications in the launcher

They kept legacy accounts still usable for a long time, though finding exact dates and references will be real hard cause of the microsoft migration stuff. [[User:Water316|Water316]] ([[User talk:Water316|talk]]) 19:19, 17 August 2025 (UTC)

== disagree modifcation ==

"Any game progress, including purchased first and third party in-game items were lost." - deleted

<bdi>"[https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Minecraft_account_migration&oldid=27335 2025-10-17T20:26:33]</bdi> [[User:Ervo|<bdi>Ervo</bdi>]] [[User talk:Ervo|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/Ervo|contribs]] 7,945 bytes −88 Minecraft doesn't have microtransactions and all progress is saved locally, so it's impossible to lose "any game progress" for not migrating, nor "purchased first party in-game items" because nothing like that exists in Minecraft. Third-party in-game items, on the other hand, rely on the corresponding third-party servers, and they are responsible for managing user IDs (which did not change after the migration), so any missing items are the sole responsibility of those server administrators."

1, MInecraft have transactions, user could buy many games, and versions. By loosing an account a user had lost ALL ACCESS to all bought games.

2, If the customer updated the client until end of acc migration, the launcher stoped working offline, the customer lost access to the whole software, the account name, and the ability to launch the game.

3, if the customer looses the ability to launch the game, or to dowload an earlyer version, that means "Any game progress, including purchased first and third party in-game items were lost." is true. [[User:Szaty|Szaty]] ([[User talk:Szaty|talk]]) 09:47, 17 November 2025 (UTC)

Talk:Minecraft account migration

2025-11-17T09:47:46Z

Szaty: /* disagree modifcation */ new section

Below is an email received from Mojang support on 16th July 2023, along with the original refund request.

Basil T. (Minecraft Help)

Jul 16, 2023, 6:56 AM PDT

Hey there,

Thank you for reaching out to us.

We understand that the migration from Mojang to Microsoft accounts is a big change, but we promise it comes with the best intentions. This migration is intended to benefit the Minecraft community by adding new features such as increased account security via 2FA, invite/chat blocking, and updated parental control options. Rest assured that nothing will change about the game except the method you use to log in.

However, '''migration is mandatory to continue playing Minecraft: Java Edition, including access to Realms.''' If you choose not to migrate to Microsoft, you will not be able to play Minecraft or extend, renew, or purchase a Java Realms subscription until you have successfully migrated. If you'd like additional information regarding Mojang's terms or licensing policies, please view our [https://web.archive.org/web/20230701163411/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/eula End User Licensing Agreement] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20230714154640/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/terms Terms of Service].

You can check out our [https://web.archive.org/web/20230610221508/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/360050865492-Minecraft-Java-Edition-Account-Migration-FAQ migration FAQ] or [https://web.archive.org/web/20230918190107/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4403178607373 Microsoft Account Migration Issues] article for additional information about migrating to a Microsoft account, and the following walkthroughs will provide detailed instructions to get you moved over depending on which account type you currently use:

[https://web.archive.org/web/20230610223116/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4411173197709-How-to-Migrate-a-Legacy-Minecraft-Account-to-a-Microsoft-Account- How to Migrate a Legacy Minecraft Account]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220524050225/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4403192913933-How-to-Migrate-Your-Child-s-Mojang-Account-to-a-Microsoft-Account-Instructions-for-Parent-Guardian- How to Migrate a Child’s Mojang Account]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20230610205548/https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4403181904525-How-to-Migrate-Your-Mojang-Account-to-a-Microsoft-Account How to Migrate a Mojang Account]

If there is anything else we can do to assist you with your migration, please let us know.

Basil T.

[Name Redacted]

Jul 15, 2023, 12:09 AM PDT

I purchased Java edition on the 24th of May, 2011.

In february last year I started getting messages about needing a Microsoft account to be able to continue playing the game after September 2023, which was not included in the terms laid out to me at the time of purchase.

I do not want to create a Microsoft account, and as such I would lose access to the product I paid for.

Even though the amount of money in discussion is insignificant to both parties, this is a question of principle. I consider taking away the right to use a product which I paid money for, without committing any violation of the product's terms of service, a gross violation of the concept of consumer ownership and outright theft.

Granted, Minecraft is an old game, but all of the other 10+year-old games I own still work fine.

I would understand if using the game's online features would require a Microsoft account but why I would need to login to play only singleplayer is beyond me.

If this is how modern companies treat their paying customers, then I am happy that the few euros I paid for the game is all the money you ever got from me.

== Not the first time Minecraft required "migration" (Minecraft -> Mojang -> Microsoft) ==

When Minecraft first launched, they were simply Minecraft accounts. Login with username and password. Then around 2012 or 2013? pre-Microsoft acquisition they started to pest people to migrate their accounts to "Mojang accounts", login with email address. There weren't any exclusive benefits to this like capes iirc, they just made it sound like it was "more secure" or something and put massive notifications in the launcher

They kept legacy accounts still usable for a long time, though finding exact dates and references will be real hard cause of the microsoft migration stuff. [[User:Water316|Water316]] ([[User talk:Water316|talk]]) 19:19, 17 August 2025 (UTC)

== disagree modifcation ==

"Any game progress, including purchased first and third party in-game items were lost." - deleted

<bdi>"[https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Minecraft_account_migration&oldid=27335 2025-10-17T20:26:33]</bdi> [[User:Ervo|<bdi>Ervo</bdi>]] [[User talk:Ervo|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/Ervo|contribs]] 7,945 bytes −88 Minecraft doesn't have microtransactions and all progress is saved locally, so it's impossible to lose "any game progress" for not migrating, nor "purchased first party in-game items" because nothing like that exists in Minecraft. Third-party in-game items, on the other hand, rely on the corresponding third-party servers, and they are responsible for managing user IDs (which did not change after the migration), so any missing items are the sole responsibility of those server administrators."

1, MInecraft have transaction, user could buy many games, and versions. By loosing an account a user had lost ALL ACCESS to all bought games.

2, If the customer updated the client until end of acc migration, the launcher stoped working offline, the customer lost access to the whole software, the account name, and the ability to launch the game.

3, if the customer looses the ability to launch the game, or to dowload an earlyer version, that means "Any game progress, including purchased first and third party in-game items were lost." is true. [[User:Szaty|Szaty]] ([[User talk:Szaty|talk]]) 09:47, 17 November 2025 (UTC)

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-11-17T09:24:07Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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|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>

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 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.

Note: this article focuses on the original Minecraft (Java Edition).

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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

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 obsurity:===
Minecraft has many versions, editions, websites, shops, on multiple platforms, had 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.

The scope of the lack of sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]' used in a video about a class action lawsuit<ref name=":12" />.
*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.

===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 predecessors to its later terms of use in 'support.jsp' in the form of 'Frequently Asked Questions'<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>, later in copyright.jsp. as 'Copyright information'.<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>

==Customer ownership terms in Minecraft 1.0==
2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0

===Product page information===
2011-09-13 - 2012-08-18:<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>Purchase Minecraft

(...)

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

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

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>2012-01-12 Statement by Markus Persson aka Notch, founder of Mojang:<blockquote>Just pirate it. If you still like it when you can afford it in the future, buy it then. Also don't forget to feel bad. ;) <ref>{{Cite web |title=twitter.com/notch/status |url=https://x.com/notch/status/157261795139125248 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025133021/https://twitter.com/notch/status/157261795139125248 |archive-date=2013-10-25 |website=twitter.com}}</ref></blockquote>

==Customer ownership changes before Microsoft==
2011-2014 Customer Ownership changes before Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios.

===Account.mojang.com migration===

====Start of migration====
2012-10-11 The new account.mojang.com site arrives with a set of its own terms, named EULA<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>

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" /><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>

====End of migration====
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">{{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>

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>

==Customer ownership changes after Microsoft==
2014-2025 Customer Ownership changes after Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios. 2014-09<ref name=":9" />

===Product becomes a license===
2015-10-27 The subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to the Game"<ref name=":10">{{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>

===Microsoft account migration===
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 name=":11">{{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>

===Removed EULA-change avoidance===
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
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Minecraft websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who don't want to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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 name=":12">{{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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819223737/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UF_4gZclI |archive-date=2025-08-19 |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==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]
[[Category:End-user license agreements]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-11-17T09:20:23Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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|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>

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 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.

Note: this article focuses on the original Minecraft (Java Edition).

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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 obsurity:===
Minecraft has many versions, editions, websites, shops, on multiple platforms, had 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.

The scope of the lack of sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]' used in a video about a class action lawsuit<ref name=":12" />.
*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.

===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 predecessors to its later terms of use in 'support.jsp' in the form of 'Frequently Asked Questions'<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>, later in copyright.jsp. as 'Copyright information'.<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>

==Customer ownership terms in Minecraft 1.0==
2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0

===Product page information===
2011-09-13 - 2012-08-18:<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>Purchase Minecraft

(...)

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

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

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>2012-01-12 Statement by Markus Persson aka Notch, founder of Mojang:<blockquote>Just pirate it. If you still like it when you can afford it in the future, buy it then. Also don't forget to feel bad. ;) <ref>{{Cite web |title=twitter.com/notch/status |url=https://x.com/notch/status/157261795139125248 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025133021/https://twitter.com/notch/status/157261795139125248 |archive-date=2013-10-25 |website=twitter.com}}</ref></blockquote>

==Customer ownership changes before Microsoft==
2011-2014 Customer Ownership changes before Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios.

===Account.mojang.com migration===

====Start of migration====
2012-10-11 The new account.mojang.com site arrives with a set of its own terms, named EULA<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>

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" /><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>

====End of migration====
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">{{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>

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>

==Customer ownership changes after Microsoft==
2014-2025 Customer Ownership changes after Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios. 2014-09<ref name=":9" />

===Product becomes a license===
2015-10-27 The subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to the Game"<ref name=":10">{{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>

===Microsoft account migration===
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 name=":11">{{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>

===Removed EULA-change avoidance===
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
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Minecraft websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who don't want to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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 name=":12">{{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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819223737/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UF_4gZclI |archive-date=2025-08-19 |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==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]
[[Category:End-user license agreements]]

Talk:Consent-or-pay

2025-09-12T09:33:33Z

Szaty: /* Devil's advocate */ Reply

==Devil's advocate==

on this topic, I think it's probably fair to include some of the 'user choice' counter-argument, which is essentially that, instead of the content being 'free' but paywalled if the user does not consent to data collection, users are simply offered the choice of paying via data or paying via money. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:02, 26 August 2025 (UTC)

:That makes sense. It's more simplified and also shows how data has become a new currency [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 16:37, 26 August 2025 (UTC)
:*'''Consent''' to the use of cookies and personal data for targeted advertising, '''or'''
:*'''Pay''' a small monthly fee to access the service without tracking.
:*'''Loss of access'''?
:[[User:Szaty|Szaty]] ([[User talk:Szaty|talk]]) 00:18, 11 September 2025 (UTC)
::Seems like a fair way of putting it. There's only so upset that it's reasonable to be over loss of access to something free. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 08:42, 12 September 2025 (UTC)
::::) you just said it, it was never free if you already shared all your data. Im not inot ai but google sais: "Consent-or-pay," or "pay-or-ok," How the Consent-or-pay Model Works
:::Consent: A user agrees to allow their personal data to be collected and used, typically for targeted advertising. In return, they receive free access to the online service or content.
:::Pay: The user pays a fee or subscription to access the service without their personal data being used for tracking or personalized ads.
:::Decline: Users can also choose to simply leave the service or not use it if they find the terms unacceptabl [[User:Szaty|Szaty]] ([[User talk:Szaty|talk]]) 09:33, 12 September 2025 (UTC)

Talk:Consent-or-pay

2025-09-11T00:18:32Z

Szaty: /* Devil's advocate */ Reply

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-09-08T14:12:48Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

Note: this article focuses on the original Minecraft (Java Edition).

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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 obsurity:===
Minecraft has many versions, editions, websites, shops, on multiple platforms, had 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.

The scope of the lack of sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]' used in a video about a class action lawsuit<ref name=":12" />.
*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.

===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 predecessors to its later terms of use in 'support.jsp' in the form of 'Frequently Asked Questions'<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>, later in copyright.jsp. as 'Copyright information'.<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>

==Customer ownership terms in Minecraft 1.0==
2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0

===Product page information===
2011-09-13 - 2012-08-18:<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>Purchase Minecraft

(...)

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

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

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>2012-01-12 Statement by Markus Persson aka Notch, founder of Mojang:<blockquote>Just pirate it. If you still like it when you can afford it in the future, buy it then. Also don't forget to feel bad. ;) <ref>{{Cite web |title=twitter.com/notch/status |url=https://x.com/notch/status/157261795139125248 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025133021/https://twitter.com/notch/status/157261795139125248 |archive-date=2013-10-25 |website=twitter.com}}</ref></blockquote>

==Customer ownership changes before Microsoft==
2011-2014 Customer Ownership changes before Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios.

===Account.mojang.com migration===

====Start of migration====
2012-10-11 The new account.mojang.com site arrives with a set of its own terms, named EULA<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>

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" /><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>

====End of migration====
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">{{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>

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>

==Customer ownership changes after Microsoft==
2014-2025 Customer Ownership changes after Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios. 2014-09<ref name=":9" />

===Product becomes a license===
2015-10-27 The subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to the Game"<ref name=":10">{{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>

===Microsoft account migration===
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 name=":11">{{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>

===Removed EULA-change avoidance===
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
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Minecraft websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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 name=":12">{{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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819223737/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UF_4gZclI |archive-date=2025-08-19 |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==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]
[[Category:End-user license agreements]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-23T09:49:39Z

Szaty: Markus Persson statement

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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 obsurity:===
Minecraft has many versions, editions, websites, shops, on multiple platforms, had 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.

The scope of the lack of sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]' used in a video about a class action lawsuit<ref name=":12" />.
*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.

===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 predecessors to its later terms of use in 'support.jsp' in the form of 'Frequently Asked Questions'<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>, later in copyright.jsp. as 'Copyright information'.<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>

==Customer ownership terms in Minecraft 1.0==
2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0

===Product page information===
2011-09-13 - 2012-08-18:<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>Purchase Minecraft

(...)

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

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

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>2012-01-12 Statement by Markus Persson aka Notch, founder of Mojang:<blockquote>Just pirate it. If you still like it when you can afford it in the future, buy it then. Also don't forget to feel bad. ;) <ref>{{Cite web |title=twitter.com/notch/status |url=https://x.com/notch/status/157261795139125248 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025133021/https://twitter.com/notch/status/157261795139125248 |archive-date=2013-10-25 |website=twitter.com}}</ref></blockquote>

==Customer ownership changes before Microsoft==
2011-2014 Customer Ownership changes before Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios.

===Account.mojang.com migration===

====Start of migration====
2012-10-11 The new account.mojang.com site arrives with a set of its own terms, named EULA<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>

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" /><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>

====End of migration====
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">{{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>

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>

==Customer ownership changes after Microsoft==
2014-2025 Customer Ownership changes after Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios. 2014-09<ref name=":9" />

===Product becomes a license===
2015-10-27 The subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to the Game"<ref name=":10">{{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>

===Microsoft account migration===
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 name=":11">{{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>

===Removed EULA-change avoidance===
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
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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 name=":12">{{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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819223737/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UF_4gZclI |archive-date=2025-08-19 |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==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]
[[Category:End-user license agreements]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-22T13:23:55Z

Szaty: categories updated

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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 obsurity:===
Minecraft has many versions, editions, websites, shops, on multiple platforms, had 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.

The scope of the lack of sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]' used in a video about a class action lawsuit<ref name=":12" />.
*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.

===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 predecessors to its later terms of use in 'support.jsp' in the form of 'Frequently Asked Questions'<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>, later in copyright.jsp. as 'Copyright information'.<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>

==Customer ownership terms in Minecraft 1.0==
2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0

===Product page information===
2011-09-13 - 2012-08-18:<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>Purchase Minecraft

(...)

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

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

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>

==Customer ownership changes before Microsoft==
2011-2014 Customer Ownership changes before Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios.

===Account.mojang.com migration===

====Start of migration====
2012-10-11 The new account.mojang.com site arrives with a set of its own terms, named EULA<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>

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" /><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>

====End of migration====
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">{{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>

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>

==Customer ownership changes after Microsoft==
2014-2025 Customer Ownership changes after Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios. 2014-09<ref name=":9" />

===Product becomes a license===
2015-10-27 The subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to the Game"<ref name=":10">{{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>

===Microsoft account migration===
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 name=":11">{{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>

===Removed EULA-change avoidance===
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
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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 name=":12">{{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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819223737/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UF_4gZclI |archive-date=2025-08-19 |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==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]
[[Category:End-user license agreements]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-22T12:43:20Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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 obsurity:===
Minecraft has many versions, editions, websites, shops, on multiple platforms, had 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.

The scope of the lack of sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]' used in a video about a class action lawsuit<ref name=":12" />.
*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.

===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 predecessors to its later terms of use in 'support.jsp' in the form of 'Frequently Asked Questions'<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>, later in copyright.jsp. as 'Copyright information'.<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>

==Customer ownership terms in Minecraft 1.0==
2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0

===Product page information===
2011-09-13 - 2012-08-18:<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>Purchase Minecraft

(...)

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

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

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>

==Customer ownership changes before Microsoft==
2011-2014 Customer Ownership changes before Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios.

===Account.mojang.com migration===

====Start of migration====
2012-10-11 The new account.mojang.com site arrives with a set of its own terms, named EULA<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>

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" /><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>

====End of migration====
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">{{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>

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>

==Customer ownership changes after Microsoft==
2014-2025 Customer Ownership changes after Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios. 2014-09<ref name=":9" />

===Product becomes a license===
2015-10-27 The subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to the Game"<ref name=":10">{{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>

===Microsoft account migration===
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 name=":11">{{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>

===Removed EULA-change avoidance===
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
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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 name=":12">{{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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819223737/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UF_4gZclI |archive-date=2025-08-19 |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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-22T12:37:29Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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 obsurity:===
Minecraft has many versions, editions, websites, shops, on multiple platforms, had 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.

The scope of the lack of sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]' used in a video about a class action lawsuit<ref name=":12" />.
*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.

===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 predecessors to its later terms of use in 'support.jsp' in the form of 'Frequently Asked Questions'<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>, later in copyright.jsp. as 'Copyright information'.<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>

==Customer ownership terms in Minecraft 1.0==
2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0

===Product page information===
2011-09-13 - 2012-08-18:<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>Purchase Minecraft

(...)

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

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

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>

==Customer ownership changes before Microsoft==
2011-2014 Customer Ownership changes before Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios.

===Account.mojang.com migration===

====Start of migration====
2012-10-11 The new account.mojang.com site arrives with a set of its own terms, named EULA<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>

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" /><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>

====End of migration====
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">{{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>

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>

==Customer ownership changes after Microsoft==
2014-2025 Customer Ownership changes after Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios. 2014-09<ref name=":9" />

===Product becomes a lisense===
2015-10-27 The subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to the Game"<ref name=":10">{{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>

===Microsoft account migration===
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 name=":11">{{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>

===Removed EULA-change avoidance===
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
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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 name=":12">{{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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819223737/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UF_4gZclI |archive-date=2025-08-19 |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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-22T12:32:50Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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 obsurity:===
Minecraft has many versions, editions, websites, shops, on multiple platforms, had 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.

The scope of the lack of sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]' used in a video about a class action lawsuit<ref name=":12" />.
*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.

===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 predecessors to its later terms of use in 'support.jsp' in the form of 'Frequently Asked Questions'<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>, later in copyright.jsp. as 'Copyright information'.<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>

==Customer ownership terms in Minecraft 1.0==
2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0

===Product page information===
2011-09-13 - 2012-08-18:<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>Purchase Minecraft

(...)

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

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

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>

==Customer ownership changes before Microsoft==
2011-2014 Customer Ownership changes before Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios.

===Account.mojang.com migration===

==== Start of migration ====
2012-10-11 The new account.mojang.com site arrives with a set of its own terms, named EULA<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>

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" /><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>

==== End of migration ====
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">{{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>

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>

==Customer ownership changes after Microsoft==
2014-2025 Customer Ownership changes after Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios. 2014-09<ref name=":9" />

=== Product becomes a lisense ===
2015-10-27 The subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"<ref name=":10">{{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>

=== Microsoft account migration ===
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 name=":11">{{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>

=== Removed EULA-change avoidance ===
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
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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 name=":12">{{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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819223737/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UF_4gZclI |archive-date=2025-08-19 |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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-22T12:23:13Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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 obsurity:===
Minecraft has many versions, editions, websites, shops, on multiple platforms, had 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.

The scope of the lack of sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]' used in a video about a class action lawsuit<ref name=":12" />.
*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.

===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 predecessors to its later terms of use in 'support.jsp' in the form of 'Frequently Asked Questions'<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>, later in copyright.jsp. as 'Copyright information'.<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>

==Customer ownership terms in Minecraft 1.0==
2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0

===Product page information===
2011-09-13 - 2012-08-18:<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>Purchase Minecraft

(...)

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

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

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>

==Customer ownership changes before Microsoft==
2011-2014 Customer Ownership changes before Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios.

===Account.mojang.com migration===

====2012-10-11 The new account.mojang.com site arrives with a set of its own terms, named EULA<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>====
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" /><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>

====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">{{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>====
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>

==Customer ownership changes after Microsoft==
2014-2025 Customer Ownership changes after Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios. 2014-09<ref name=":9" />

===2015-10-27 The subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"<ref name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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 name=":12">{{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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819223737/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UF_4gZclI |archive-date=2025-08-19 |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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-22T12:22:13Z

Szaty: heading rework

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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 obsurity:===
Minecraft has many versions, editions, websites, shops, on multiple platforms, had 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.

The scope of the lack of sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]' used in a video about a class action lawsuit<ref name=":12" />.
*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.

===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 predecessors to its later terms of use in 'support.jsp' in the form of 'Frequently Asked Questions'<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>, later in copyright.jsp. as 'Copyright information'.<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>

== 2011 Customer ownership terms in Minecraft 1.0 ==
2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0

=== Product page information ===
2011-09-13 - 2012-08-18:<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>Purchase Minecraft

(...)

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

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

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 Customer ownership changes before Microsoft ==
2011-2014 Customer Ownership changes before Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios.

=== Account.mojang.com migration ===

==== 2012-10-11 The new account.mojang.com site arrives with a set of its own terms, named EULA<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> ====
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" /><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>

==== 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">{{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> ====
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>

== 2014-2025 Customer ownership changes after Microsoft ==
Customer Ownership changes after Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios. 2014-09<ref name=":9" />

=== 2015-10-27 The subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"<ref name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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 name=":12">{{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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819223737/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_UF_4gZclI |archive-date=2025-08-19 |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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-20T13:51:41Z

Szaty: headings

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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 obsurity:===
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.

The scope of the problems with the sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]'.
*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.

===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">{{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> or copyright.jsp.<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>

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

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

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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 Customer Ownership changes 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">{{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> ====

===== 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- Customer Ownership 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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-20T13:49:30Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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 obsurity:===
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.

The scope of the problems with the sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]'.
*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.

===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">{{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> or copyright.jsp.<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>

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

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

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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 Customer Ownership changes 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">{{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>====
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- Customer Ownership 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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-20T13:48:00Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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 obsurity:===
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.

The scope of the problems with the sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]'.
*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.

===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">{{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> or copyright.jsp.<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>

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

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

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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">{{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>====
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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-20T13:36:39Z

Szaty: source obsurity a seen in community notes

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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 obsurity: ===
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.

The scope of the problems with the sources is visualised in community notes on '[[:File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf|Terms versions]]' and '[[:File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf|Changes history]]'.
*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.

===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">{{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> or copyright.jsp.<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>

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

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

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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">{{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>====
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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf

2025-08-20T13:28:39Z

Szaty:

==Summary==
Collected by MC: Consequences Edition discord community. Provided by youtube/@KianBrose for use on consumerrights.wiki on 2025-08-18. Works together with "NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf".
This document only contains NOTES to an UNFINISHED archive link directory. ALL information in this document can only be used as waypoints and must be verified if used. NOT TO BE DIRECTLY CITATED
==Licensing==
{{Fairuse}}

File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf

2025-08-20T13:28:21Z

Szaty:

==Summary==
Collected by MC: Consequences Edition discord community. Provided by youtube/@KianBrose for use on consumerrights.wiki on 2025-08-18. Works together with "NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf".
This document only contains NOTES to an UNFINISHED archive link directory. ALL information in this document can only be used as waypoints and must be verified if used. NOT TO BE DIRECTLY CITATED
==Licensing==
{{Fairuse}}

File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf

2025-08-20T12:30:58Z

Szaty: /* Licensing */

== Summary ==
Collected by MC: Consequences Edition discord community. Provided by youtube/@KianBrose for use on consumerrights.wiki on 2025-08-18. Works together with "NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf".
This document only contains NOTES to an UNFINISHED archived link directory. ALL information in this document can only be used as waypoints and must be verified if used. NOT TO BE DIRECTLY CITATED
== Licensing ==
{{Fairuse}}

File:NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf

2025-08-20T12:29:06Z

Szaty: Collected by MC: Consequences Edition discord community. Provided by youtube/@KianBrose for use on consumerrights.wiki on 2025-08-18. Works together with "NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf". This document only contains NOTES to an UNFINISHED archived link directory. ALL information in this document can only be used as waypoints and must be verified if used. NOT TO BE DIRECTLY CITATED

== Summary ==
Collected by MC: Consequences Edition discord community. Provided by youtube/@KianBrose for use on consumerrights.wiki on 2025-08-18. Works together with "NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf".
This document only contains NOTES to an UNFINISHED archived link directory. ALL information in this document can only be used as waypoints and must be verified if used. NOT TO BE DIRECTLY CITATED
== Licensing ==
{{Fairuse}}

File:NOTES Full timeline of historical changes @MCCE.pdf

2025-08-20T12:26:49Z

Szaty: Collected by MC: Consequences Edition discord community. Provided by youtube/@KianBrose for use on consumerrights.wiki on 2025-08-18. Works together with "NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf". This document only contains NOTES to an UNFINISHED archived link directory. ALL information in this document can only be used as waypoints and must be verified if used. NOT TO BE DIRECTLY CITATED

== Summary ==
Collected by MC: Consequences Edition discord community. Provided by youtube/@KianBrose for use on consumerrights.wiki on 2025-08-18. Works together with "NOTES List of Minecraft's Legal Contract(s) Changes @MCCE.pdf".
This document only contains NOTES to an UNFINISHED archived link directory. ALL information in this document can only be used as waypoints and must be verified if used. NOT TO BE DIRECTLY CITATED
== Licensing ==
{{PD}}

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-20T11:18:12Z

Szaty: Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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===

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
since the first terms the publisher can change the 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 the publisher has the right to revoke permission ot use:<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 - 2023-08 the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs. :<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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-20T11:09:26Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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===

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version,
before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
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>Later, for a short time, the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs.

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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-20T11:07:38Z

Szaty: 'Number of affected users' citations updated -still some missing sources

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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===

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version history from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!Terms change
!Before
!After
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-12 |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/20131212192226/https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft_eula |archive-date=2013-12-12 |website=account.mojang.com}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":0" />
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
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>Later, for a short time, the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs.

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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-20T10:51:31Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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===

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version hostory from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'Terms' and 'Number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!TOU/EULA change
!Terms
!Sold Copies
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|<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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|<ref name=":9" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":10" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":11" />
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
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>Later, for a short time, the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs.

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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-20T10:44:49Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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===

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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 ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version hostory from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'terms' / 'number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!TOU/EULA change
!Ref.
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref><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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
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>Later, for a short time, the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs.

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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-20T08:31:00Z

Szaty: 'Number of affected' citations described

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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===

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Version hostory from minecraft.wiki.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref> Date specific 'terms' / 'number of Java copies sold' from archived Mincrafts websites
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!TOU/EULA change
!Ref.
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref><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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modification practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
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>Later, for a short time, the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs.

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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-19T00:26:15Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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===

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref>
!TOU/EULA change
!Ref.
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref><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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA modofication practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
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>Later, for a short time, the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs.

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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-19T00:25:40Z

Szaty:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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===

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref>
!TOU/EULA change
!Ref.
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref><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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA change practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:
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>Later, for a short time, the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs.

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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-19T00:25:16Z

Szaty: changed section name until Micrososoft responds

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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===

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref>
!TOU/EULA change
!Ref.
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref><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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==Reasoning for TOU/EULA change practices==
The EULA contains in itself the terms for the publishers right to change said EULA retroacively:

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>Later, for a short time, the EULA suggests not accepting updates, for thoose users who dont with to accept new EULAs.

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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T22:36:09Z

Szaty: lawsuit box removed

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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===

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref>
!TOU/EULA change
!Ref.
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref><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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==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>

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T22:31:30Z

Szaty: 'Number of affected users' citations updated -still some missing sources

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of 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>

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 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.

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

==Background==
===Mojang Studios===
{{Main|Mojang}}

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 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===

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

(...)

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

====TOU for Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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 name=":10">{{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 name=":11">{{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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=minecraft.wiki Java Edition version history |url=https://minecraft.wiki/w/Java_Edition_version_history/Development_versions |url-status=live |website=minecraft.wiki}}</ref>
!TOU/EULA change
!Ref.
|-
|2012-08
|~ 6.7 million
|1.5
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-18 |title=minecraft.net/store/game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818051209/http://www.minecraft.net/store/game |archive-date=2012-08-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref><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>
|-
|2013-06
|~ 10.2 million
|1.6
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13 million
|1.7.4
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-24 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103923/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2013-12-24 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2014-09
|~ 16 million
|1.8
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-07 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907055642/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2014-09-07 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2015-10
|~ 21 million
|1.8.8
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=minecraft.net/stats |url=https://minecraft.net/stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103161537/https://minecraft.net/stats |archive-date=2015-11-03 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|-
|2019-07
|~ 31 million
|1.14
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718114810/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/store/ |archive-date=2019-07-18 |website=minecraft.net}}</ref>
|}

==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==
{{Ph-I-L}}

==See also==
*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==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Mojang]]

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T18:20:28Z

Szaty:

{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of Service
|Description=A game first sold az 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>

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 a tech-giant.<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 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.

==Background==
===[[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 100 million times before the 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 time when multiple terms were aviable 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.

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

==2011-2025 Owneship rights in TOU/EULA==
===2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0===

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

(...)

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

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

==Conclusions==

===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
|~ 10.2million
|
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|-
|2013-12
|~ 13million
|
|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 milion
|
|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 retroactiive TOU/EULA changes:

The publisher reserved theese 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>

===Possible related consumer rights concerns regarding Minecraft TOU/EULA:===
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

#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

==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T17:14:59Z

Szaty: end of intial incudent upload

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T17:12:47Z

Szaty:

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T15:52:38Z

Szaty:

{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of Service
|Description=A game first sold az 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>

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 a tech-giant.<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 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.

==Background==
===[[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 100 million times before the 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 time when multiple terms were aviable 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.

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

==2011-2025 Owneship rights in TOU/EULA==
===2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0===

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

(...)

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

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

==Conclusions==

===Estimated minimum number of Minecraft copies sold before ownership changes in the TOU/EULA of the mian edition:===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!TOU/EULA change
|-
|2012-08
|~ 5m
|
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|-
|2013-06
|~ 14m
|
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|-
|2013-12
|~ 19m
|
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|-
|2015-10
|~ 60m
|
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|-
|2016-05
|~ 100m
|
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|-
|2020-10
|~ 170m
|
|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 retroactiive TOU/EULA changes:

The publisher reserved theese 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>

===Possible related consumer rights concerns regarding Minecraft TOU/EULA:===
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

#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

==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T15:51:45Z

Szaty:

{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of Service
|Description=A game first sold az 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>

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 a tech-giant.<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 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.

==Background==
===[[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 100 million times before the 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 time when multiple terms were aviable 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.

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

==2011-2025 Owneship rights in TOU/EULA==
===2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0===

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

(...)

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

====TOU in Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
!<blockquote>We reserve the right to change this agreement at any time with or without notice, with immediate and/or retroactive effect. -wbm</blockquote>
|}
<blockquote></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>

==Conclusions==

===Estimated minimum number of Minecraft copies sold before ownership changes in the TOU/EULA of the mian edition:===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!TOU/EULA change
|-
|2012-08
|~ 5m
|
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|-
|2013-06
|~ 14m
|
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|-
|2013-12
|~ 19m
|
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|-
|2015-10
|~ 60m
|
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|-
|2016-05
|~ 100m
|
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|-
|2020-10
|~ 170m
|
|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 retroactiive TOU/EULA changes:

The publisher reserved theese 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>

===Possible related consumer rights concerns regarding Minecraft TOU/EULA:===
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

#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

==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T15:49:24Z

Szaty:

{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of Service
|Description=A game first sold az 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>

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 a tech-giant.<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 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.

==Background==
===[[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 100 million times before the 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 time when multiple terms were aviable 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.

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

==2011-2025 Owneship rights in TOU/EULA==
===2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0===

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

(...)

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

====TOU in Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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. -wbm</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>

==Conclusions==

===Estimated minimum number of Minecraft copies sold before ownership changes in the TOU/EULA of the mian edition:===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!TOU/EULA change
|-
|2012-08
|~ 5m
|
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|-
|2013-06
|~ 14m
|
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|-
|2013-12
|~ 19m
|
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|-
|2015-10
|~ 60m
|
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|-
|2016-05
|~ 100m
|
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|-
|2020-10
|~ 170m
|
|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 retroactiive TOU/EULA changes:

The publisher reserved theese 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>

===Possible related consumer rights concerns regarding Minecraft TOU/EULA:===
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

#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

==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T15:48:04Z

Szaty:

{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of Service
|Description=A game first sold az 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>

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 a tech-giant.<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 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.

==Background==
===[[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 100 million times before the Microsoft purchase.<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 time when multiple terms were aviable 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.

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

==2011-2025 Owneship rights in TOU/EULA==
===2011-09-23 Ownership terms in full release of Minecraft 1.0.0===

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

(...)

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

====TOU in Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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. -wbm</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>

==Conclusions==

===Estimated minimum number of Minecraft copies sold before ownership changes in the TOU/EULA of the mian edition:===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!TOU/EULA change
|-
|2012-08
|~ 5m
|
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|-
|2013-06
|~ 14m
|
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|-
|2013-12
|~ 19m
|
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|-
|2015-10
|~ 60m
|
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|-
|2016-05
|~ 100m
|
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|-
|2020-10
|~ 170m
|
|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 retroactiive TOU/EULA changes:

The publisher reserved theese 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>

===Possible related consumer rights concerns regarding Minecraft TOU/EULA:===
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

#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

==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T15:46:20Z

Szaty: /* Estimated minimum number of Minecraft copies sold before ownership changes in the TOU/EULA: */

{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of Service
|Description=A game first sold az 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>

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 a tech-giant.<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 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.

==Background==
===[[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 100 million times before the Microsoft purchase.<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 time when multiple terms were aviable 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.

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

==2011-2025 Owneship rights in TOU/EULA==
{{Ph-I-I}}

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

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

(...)

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

====TOU in Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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. -wbm</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>

==Conclusions==

===Estimated minimum number of Minecraft copies sold before ownership changes in the TOU/EULA of the mian edition:===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Date of change
!Copies sold
!Version
!TOU/EULA change
|-
|2012-08
|~ 5m
|
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|-
|2013-06
|~ 14m
|
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|-
|2013-12
|~ 19m
|
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|-
|2015-10
|~ 60m
|
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|-
|2016-05
|~ 100m
|
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|-
|2020-10
|~ 170m
|
|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 retroactiive TOU/EULA changes:

The publisher reserved theese 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>

===Possible related consumer rights concerns regarding Minecraft TOU/EULA:===
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

#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

==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T15:40:05Z

Szaty:

{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of Service
|Description=A game first sold az 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>

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 a tech-giant.<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 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.

==Background==
===[[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 100 million times before the Microsoft purchase.<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 time when multiple terms were aviable 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.

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

==2011-2025 Owneship rights in TOU/EULA==
{{Ph-I-I}}

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

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

(...)

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

====TOU in Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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. -wbm</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>

== Conclusions ==

=== Estimated minimum number of Minecraft copies sold before ownership changes in the TOU/EULA: ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Period
!Copys sold
!Version
!TOU/EULA change
|-
|2012-08
|~ 5m
|
|while the product page states: “Once you've bought the game, it's yours. No DRM”
|-
|2013-06
|~ 14m
|
|before launcher software first includes DRM
|-
|2013-12
|~ 19m
|
|while early customers were promised a full version, and before first mention of permission revocation right of the publisher
|-
|2015-10
|~ 60m
|
|before the subject of the transaction changes from "bought the game" to "have been granted a license to play the game"
|-
|2016-05
|~ 100m
|
|before Microsoft becomes the owner of Mojang<ref name=":9" />
|-
|2020-10
|~ 170m
|
|before EULA includes Microsoft Services Agreement
|}

===Mojang's response===
{{Ph-I-ComR}}Reasoning for the publishers right to retroactively change the ownership of the game is the same as for all other retroactiive TOU/EULA changes:

The publisher reserved theese 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>

=== Possible related consumer rights concerns regarding Minecraft TOU/EULA: ===
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

# 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

==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T14:34:24Z

Szaty:

{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of Service
|Description=A game first sold az 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>

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 a tech-giant.<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 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.

==Background==
===[[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 100 million times before the Microsoft purchase.<ref>{{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 time when multiple terms were aviable 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.

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

==2011-2025 Owneship rights in TOU/EULA==
{{Ph-I-I}}

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

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

(...)

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

====TOU in Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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. -wbm</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" />

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>

===Mojang's response===
{{Ph-I-ComR}}Reasoning for the publishers right to retroactively change the ownership of the game is the same as for all other retroactiive TOU/EULA changes:

The publisher reserved theese 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}}

==Consumer response==
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T14:07:42Z

Szaty:

{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of Service
|Description=A game first sold az 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>

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 a tech-giant.<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 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.

==Background==
===[[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 100 million times before the Microsoft purchase.<ref>{{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 time when multiple terms were aviable 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.

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

==2011-2025 Owneship rights in TOU/EULA==
{{Ph-I-I}}

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

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

(...)

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

====TOU in Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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. -wbm</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" />

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>

===[Company]'s response===
{{Ph-I-ComR}}

==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}

==Consumer response==
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T14:00:54Z

Szaty: /* 2023-08-02 Removed the information about the option of users avoiding EULA changes by not accepting updates */

{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of Service
|Description=A game first sold az 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>

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 a tech-giant.<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 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.

==Background==
===[[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 100 million times before the Microsoft purchase.<ref>{{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 .txt 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 time when multiple terms were aviable 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.

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

==2011-2025 Owneship rights in TOU/EULA==
{{Ph-I-I}}

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

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

(...)

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

====TOU in Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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. -wbm</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" />

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>

===[Company]'s response===
{{Ph-I-ComR}}

==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}

==Consumer response==
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T13:30:29Z

Szaty: /* 2023-08-02 Removed the information about the option of users voiding EULA changes by not accepting updates */

{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of Service
|Description=A game first sold az 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>

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 a tech-giant.<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 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.

==Background==
===[[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 100 million times before the Microsoft purchase.<ref>{{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 .txt file in the game directory.
*The latest TOU/EULA is the only available version on Minecraft’s website.
*Earlier verifiable versions of the TOU/ EULA are only available on archived versions of Minecraft’s website, but there were time when multiple terms were aviable 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 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.

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

==2011-2025 Owneship rights in TOU/EULA==
{{Ph-I-I}}

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

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

(...)

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

====TOU in Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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. -wbm</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.

====2013-12-12 The TOU fully merges into the EULA of account.mojang.com with the end of minecraft.net/terms<ref>{{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 account migration from Mojang account to Microsoft account with new EULA====
Buyers who failed to migrate, but kept their launcher up to date, lost their access to the software.<ref name=":5" />

Microsoft Services Agreement also included in minecrafts’ EULA:<ref name=":6" />

<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====
“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.”

===[Company]'s response===
{{Ph-I-ComR}}

==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}

==Consumer response==
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T13:28:41Z

Szaty:

{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Mojang, Microsoft
|StartDate=2009-05-19
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Minecraft
|Product=Minecraft Java Edition
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Terms of Service
|Description=A game first sold az 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>

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 a tech-giant.<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 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.

==Background==
===[[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 100 million times before the Microsoft purchase.<ref>{{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 .txt file in the game directory.
*The latest TOU/EULA is the only available version on Minecraft’s website.
*Earlier verifiable versions of the TOU/ EULA are only available on archived versions of Minecraft’s website, but there were time when multiple terms were aviable 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 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.

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

==2011-2025 Owneship rights in TOU/EULA==
{{Ph-I-I}}

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

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

(...)

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

====TOU in Minecraft 1.0.0<ref name=":0" />====
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. -wbm</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.

==== 2013-12-12 The TOU fully merges into the EULA of account.mojang.com with the end of minecraft.net/terms<ref>{{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 account migration from Mojang account to Microsoft account with new EULA====
Buyers who failed to migrate, but kept their launcher up to date, lost their access to the software.<ref name=":5" />

Microsoft Services Agreement also included in minecrafts’ EULA:<ref name=":6" />

<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 voiding EULA changes by not accepting updates====
“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.”

===[Company]'s response===
{{Ph-I-ComR}}

==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}

==Consumer response==
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ph-I-C}}

Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes

2025-08-18T12:55:29Z

Szaty: