With the recent announcement about changes to the EULA (and in particular, how they will affect multiplayer servers), many questions have arisen. Mojang has looked over numerous discussions by you, the community, and has released a new Q&A announcement, to address some of the most frequently-asked questions to come from the announcement. More many come in the future, but for now, check out these clarifying answers, direct from Mojang!
Quote fromAre any servers exempt to the EULA?
No. It affects all servers and players equally.
Do server hosts have a grace period to implement changes to their servers?
Yes. All servers must comply with the EULA by August 1st, 2014.
Can I charge for access to my server?
Yes. How players join a server is up to you. Single entrance fees or subscriptions are both allowed.
How often am I allowed to charge players to access my server?
You can charge players as regularly as you like. You can even charge for timed access if you think it’s the best way to monetise your server.
What counts as a server? Are proxies one big server, or lots of smaller ones?
A server is something a user connects to with their client. The user is on a different server when they leave the one they are connected to and manually join another (in the multiplayer screen). Virtual servers and proxies make no difference here, to the client it’s the same server.
Can I charge access to a specific part of my server, such as a minigame or world?
No, you cannot charge for any part of a server other than the initial access. Once on a server, all players must have the same gameplay privileges. You may make a different server for the user to connect to which features “premium” areas, and charge for access to that server instead, but the benefits cannot carry over to your other servers.
So can I charge for my minigames or mods?
Yes, so long as all players on your server have access to the features.
Can I offer a limited trial period for all users?
Yes. So long as both trial and paying users have access to the same gameplay features during the trial, we’re cool with it.
Can I give paying users priority access to my server?
Yes, but you cannot restrict gameplay elements to specific users.
Does the EULA still apply for access to user-created mods?
Yes. It doesn’t make a difference who made the mods, or how they were implemented onto your server. All mods require Minecraft to run. You are not allowed to charge for Minecraft features which affect gameplay.
What do you mean by “hard currency” compared to “soft currency”?
Hard currency is real money or anything that can be converted into real money, including Bitcoins. Soft currency is available in-game only, and has no real-world value. The restriction in the EULA only apply to hard currency; you may unlock anything with soft currency.
Can I sell “kits” for hard currency if I provide a balanced alternative for non-paying users?
If the “kits” contain gameplay-affecting features they are not allowed. Gameplay balance is not relevant to the EULA. If the items included in the kit are purely cosmetic, you can charge real money/hard currency.
My server features a currency that you can earn through gameplay, but which can also be bought for hard currency. Is that OK?
Soft currencies that are solely earned in-game are fine, but you cannot sell in-game currency for hard currency. Hybrid/dual currency systems are not allowed.
Can I sell boosters, which provide faster gold gain, XP, or other in-game resources for hard currency?
No – boosters, item generators, and all other features that affect gameplay are not allowed.
So how do I make money from cosmetic items?
You can sell cosmetic items for hard currency directly or allow players to fund an “account” specific to your server. It’s up to the host of the server to decide how this works. Remember that capes are the exception to this rule – you are not allowed to give them away or sell them.
Can I sell ranks on my server?
Yes. Ranks are allowed so long as any perks gained are cosmetic. Coloured names, prefixes, special hats etc. are fine.
Can users purchase something that affects the entire server, such as a temporary XP boost?
Yes, but everyone who can access the server must be able to use the feature, regardless of whether they purchased it or not.
Can I award all players with a gameplay feature if I reach a donation goal within a time period?
Yes, so long as all players receive the benefit regardless of who donated then it’s OK.
Can I charge for access to server commands?
Yes, as long as their effects are purely cosmetic. Commands that affect gameplay, such as a command to fly, cannot be sold for hard currency.
If all players get access to a feature such as a plot of land, can I sell access to multiple plots for hard currency?
No – that would be a gameplay affecting change, so it’s not allowed. All player who access your server must have the same gameplay features offered to them. The same rule applies to items, such as potions.
How should servers deal with users who have already spent hard currency on features that affect gameplay?
Users may keep the perks they have paid for, on the condition that the same perks are available to other players on the server (directly, or purchasable using soft currency). It’s up to the server host to decide how to compensate users for previous transactions.
Do you have a question you would like answered about the EULA? Let's discuss it in the comments!
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EXTREMELY FRIENDLY REMINDER OF FRIENDLINESS AND HAPPY-JOY FEELINGS
Please keep all discussion as civil as possible! This is a very hot topic, and we understand that there are very strong feelings about the EULA. That's okay! Open discussion is a GOOD thing! However, please avoid the following:
- Name-calling
- Encouraging (or claiming to engage in) EULA violations
You're*
I think it's funny that Mojang says "no p2w servers" but now they're pay to play with an entrance fee possible
No you do not you made the purchase you got what you payed for and now with eula all of it will be gone and money wasted unless you have had it for like months and months its most likely worth having it for that long hehe.
Some servers might give something back, but servers cost money so all the money is most likely already spent on upkeep for that server.
So a lot of us have obviously seen the new RIDICULOUS EULA that Mojang has put out there for us server owners to abide by. It damages our servers Values, Image, and Reasons for why we do what we do. I hope Mojang sees this because they need to understand WHY server owners do what they do.
I do not know about you, but you know that there are certain commands in game that can destroy or make a battle for any given player. As on my server, all donators can use /fly but cannot pvp while using it. Other instances are me having a Donators freebuild area for donators to freely build because if all players were to be given freebuild, chaos and greif would ensue. Why does mojang think we restrict players on some things, because we get stupid little kids who want to greif or abuse commands if given the opportunity. Why are we not allowed to let hard working paying players be able to use certain commands such as /fly, /feed, or even /heal. We cannot give them special kits as thanks, or even give them special classes in minigames anymore... They want paying players EQUAL to free playing players. I for one think this is unfair because then what do I do for my players who have payed for donation ranks with all their perks? What I am going to have to do is remove them all and leave them in the dark...
My players have all read the EULA and all agree these new changes are idiotic and unfair to all server owners who have worked so hard and long to get it to where it is now, only to have to step a thousand steps back. Now we have to change how our servers work, and how they operate. I cannot even have players buy items from shops if they wanted to? Why can't we set Donation age restrictions or to have an adult nearby during the purchase? Why do donations and purchases have to be totally cosmetic? If players want to buy a diamond sword for $2 on my server, why can they not get it? Yeah I know other server charge up the ass for items, but that is not ALL servers. What Mojang needs to do is have a set amount of their staff go from server to server and check out every website and thread linked to that server, and make sure they are all running as they should and make sure they are not being unfair to players. If they see a server charging $200 for 1 diamond sword, then thats when they should jump in and tell THAT server to fix thir unfair prices and unfair rankings...
Personally I do not like the "cosmetics" side to the story. if players donate and only recieve COSMETICS, what freaking value do donator ranks have now? players are not going to donate anymore with that. Some server actually NEED donations to run, such as mine and I need special perks or kits to even make them appealing to players and make them want to buy my donator ranks. The thing Mojang fails to understand, players will NOT donate UNLESS THEY RECIEVE SOMETHING IN RETURN. I mean nobody is going to stand for a pat on the back for a $40 donation am I right?
Mojang needs to destroy the new restrictions on the EULA or at least loosen the reigns a bit and let us be more dynamic and add more depth to our servers. All this EULA did was basically give ALL players on a server special perks and equality paying or not... and where in any economy in the world does this make any sense.... (besides communism). YES I JUST CALLED MOJANG COMMUNISTS, but, in reality, isn't that what the EULA makes all servers look out to be? basically we are all going to now be running Communist servers where the hard working paying players get nothing in return but a pat on the back and everyone gets everything...
Thank you for reading if you did. I hope Mojang really reads this and sees that this new EULA will destroy the fundamentals of server in many ways.
I think people should be reminded that Minecraft was made to be played and enjoyed and was never intended as a tool of profit for anyone other than Mojang. Mojang are generous enough to even allow people to profit off their game and they have full control on how people make money off of it because it is their game.
I can assure you that you are shooting yourself in the foot with this one Mojang. You may not realize it but your game thrives on the hundreds of programmers who add flavor to the game, as well as the knowledgeable hosts who provide the people who have bought the game a place to play. I don't offer donations to try and promote OP players or items, and I don't accept donations with the intention to get rich by any means. How many game devs out there rely on the community to host servers and keep their game relevant and then turn around and try and tell us how we can or can't conduct those said servers? How much money have you made off the game? Oh yeah, MILLIONS, and you're gonna tell these servers hosts that they can't make a little money off of it? As the game grew in popularity over the last 5 years you gradually raised the price. Was it because you needed more money? NOPE. It was because you saw the demand on the rise and started to see dollar signs. Don't try and tell me that your website, database, and other necessities of providing a game of this magnitude was necessary either because I'm well aware of that it doesn't cost millions, especially when the COMMUNITY does all of your server hosting for YOU! I make a small amount of money off the servers I host through your game, but it's nowhere near the amount of money the less than 40 people that work at Mojang have made from the game itself. I really hope you drive yourself in the ground with your ignorance and we can all quickly move to the next sandbox game that hopefully doesn't plan on riding it's high horse off into the sunset.
I fully consider the new EULA to be nothing more than rhetoric as the current EULA is. Thanks Mojang for hopping on board the typical we got rich and no we are going to try and muscle the people that got us there bandwagon that just about every corporation seems to jump on these days. Hosting your servers IS almost a full time job and we as server owners do deserve a little bit of compensation. I find it really saddening and pathetic that you can't share those same feelings.
Good day from one extremely annoyed/irritated Minecraft server host!
If you didn't catch the memo I was talking about the bolded parts... the benefits.
No it's not raging at all. If you had half a clue about what a server owner goes through, the ignorant kids they have to deal with to maintain a reputable server, and the ridiculous amount of maintenance that goes into maintaining these servers maybe you would then qualify as having a clue. Obviously most of you guys think we all do this and it's so easy and we just get rich just like that. Why don't you come on down bud. You can pay my over $700 U.S.D. in server bills, and then maybe go fix a corrupted chunk or two. Maybe when you are done with that you can chase an issue and figure out what the crash reports are telling you. You guys are horribly inept to what it takes to host servers, especially if you are doing it with any of the mods that are out there for MC.
It's a hardship, but legally and ethically, that doesn't justify violating the EULA and providing perks that give advantage, no matter how hard you try to balance it.
THE EULA HAS NOT CHANGED.
Servers were technically supposed to be following these rules all along. The only difference now is that Mojang will be enforcing the rules.
Seriously, can we put a banner at the top of this topic or something? This is a widespread misconception that's hurting discussion.
Then why don't you accept the fact Minecraft was never meant to be used to make money by anyone other than Mojang? Scale down the servers now that your projected income will be less than before and only increase if the paying members are enough. Get a real job if you want steady income instead of relying it on a game you technically do not own.
Oh my bad. I forgot to address the typical internet assumption that I am a bum with no job. I have one of those.....40 hours a week, 2nd assistant manager at a restaurant. I just don't think you realize how much the EULA is going to affect the ability to keep servers up, not just making a profit. I have a connection with a server host and only pay 120 a month for a 32GB E3 server that one single server eats almost half of. It's pretty naive to think that players are just going to donate out of appreciation. That trait died in people a while ago.
"the new EULA enforcement"
1 This gets rid of most of the non paying customers who don't pay because
2. In order for a server to succeed they will need to charge their players a monthly fee or an entrance fee.
3. This will eliminate many of the servers who follow the rules. (the ones that don't care, won't care)
4. narrowing the cease and desist letters they will have to send out to the other servers, which after that is done
5. they can prosecute the few large ones left, or buy them out. for cheap because they will be failing anyhow.
6. With plans on pushing their mine craft realms that will not have these restrictions, to push out their competitors.
I mean if you do this one small step at a time we wont notice right?
What rules do you have in store for us next?
I know I have spent the last month making a server I was going to launch this Friday, had a good group for a staff not at all power hungry all adults, a small home based server nothing too major bought a machine to host it through, but now, I know I can't reasonably launch it. Much less get back the money I paid for that machine. Well I expected it to take time, that was O-K. Now I don't think I can make it work unless I find a loophole. Even our non paying players bught personality to the servers keeping our paying customers here. They deserve to be here too!
Hope you covered those every good server is looking for one, and their player base is counting on them to find it.
You're getting rid of our player base, most of the kids on this game can't afford to pay for a game then pay for a server to play on much less a monthly fee. But if they occasionally get allowance they might drop $5 here or there to get an awesome perk!
I mean what am I going to sell hats?! seriously Mojang you think hats and frilly poofy capes will make up server costs? How bad you going to hurt the servers who DO follow you rules? You won't they will just die.
I mean landmark is coming out they look 100% better, graphics are far superior, the options for building at angles and spheres etc is all there everything your lacking, but I liked the way you ran things, open and honest, and I adored the "old game feel" of this.
I have played the political game all my life, normally I would have answered this with some more tact, but I feel like you are being shady and greedy, so I have no desire to.
The servers many have pay to win or pay to be better options, even if it is just a small donation, but now instead your FORCING that on us, at least if we want to be successful.
I mean a monthly fee is forcing it upon everyone not just those that can afford to do it. There have been times I have donated to servers, and there have been times I was too poor to do so and worked my way up instead. It was also fun, when a server was to OP I would simply find one that wasn't.
Now your saying if I want to play with friends and I can't afford to host my own server I have to make a monthly payment or pay them jsut to log onto a server, that's awesome! (sarcasm is heavy)
Oh wait I forgot you have realms now! We can pay you!! So much for any of us being able to support a server, profit is all yours! Well done creative tactics to an unforeseen problem you missed! Close those servers down!
I mean if it unbalances a server we leave and go somewhere else and that server dies.
It is a natural course and you are going to shoot your own foot for this. You might have had 10 years, I just hope people are smart enough to make it less than 5 with this.
Needless to say I am disappointed in you for this, you may want to rethink it. Talk to your over paid lawyers and your marketing strategists it may enlighten you to know, that with Landmark around the corner launching, and you pulling stuff like this where are you going to chase your players off to?
They make it so players CAN make money there. Might just think of taking a small percent of the server profits to line your heavy pockets with instead. At least then you would be honest about taking our hard work and money. Not covering it with "we want to be fair to everyone" because, fair is a server dying because people don't like the donation systems. Fair is a player base who gets a say in what they are playing, but you didn't give us an option or an opinion, just a sentance to kill out most of the servers, aka your realms competitors.
You will notice the most successful servers consult their player base, too bad you can't learn from this.
Can I have a job there? I can play this game with better lies than you come up with. At least mine would have been believable.
Now that I have gotten the angry portion over with, I mean truly can you rethink the options in doing this to make it more fair, such as everything has to be at least obtainable with a reasonable time frame to everyone?
People don't spend money to check out a server, they spend money because they like it. They don't want an entrance fee. Yay we have a trial period that's great, but I mean that rules out the large donations and the servers only get a one time fee and since we are not the larger companies, this stops out income if we are forced to forever grow, sometimes we like to cap so its not too big, having a better quality of server.
And there are not may people I know that can afford another monthly fee, even WoW has learned about micro transactions and are thinking of dropping it. It is becoming a way of the past for a reason.
Hats and capes are not going to be enough when we have skins and armor covers everything so you don't even see it.
Besides in Minecraft its all about how you decorate or how you pvp not about how YOU look. I ran around as Steve for like ever before my friend made me change my skin, and I know so many other players like that.
Please I am begging look into this, if you need other ideas let me know I will gladly offer them in your direction, but this is a poor decision.
So why are you whining since you do have a job? Scale down the servers like I have suggested since there is no award for having 1000 players online compare to the one with only 10. A simple solution to a simple problem instead of whining endlessly.
I have to shake my head to people who treats minecraft like a business. I host a small server myself for a small group of friends and I don't charge anything for it because I use my own computer as a server. Multiplayer, for me, is just a way to play with my friends. Minecraft started multiplayer with that intention but some people realized the money making potential of it because of building your own world in your own server and now people are too comfortable on their money making scheme to adjust accordingly.
Yes they said these would NOT be allowed only colors in chat.I feel this is only to help kill servers out to help them Eeforce this an push Realms down on everyone.
didn't you hear? mojang is disallowing capes too.