ESA Clarifies Private Server Stance After 'Piracy' Comments Hit California AB 1921
Updated
Updated · Video Games Chronicle · Jul 1
ESA Clarifies Private Server Stance After 'Piracy' Comments Hit California AB 1921
3 articles · Updated · Video Games Chronicle · Jul 1
Summary
ESA told VGC its lobbyist’s remarks had conflated “community servers” with “private servers” during a Senate committee discussion on California’s AB 1921.
The trade group said unauthorized private servers that host or distribute copyrighted game content can infringe publishers’ IP rights, and argued AB 1921 could weaken their ability to enforce those rights.
Jennifer Gibbons had called such servers “illegal” and “piracy” after lawmakers cited community-hosted options in games including Minecraft and Call of Duty as possible ways to keep titles playable.
ESA also said publisher-uncontrolled servers lack oversight and the same trust-and-safety standards, framing player safety alongside copyright as a reason to oppose them.
The clarification lands after the Protect Our Games Act, a separate US bill aimed at preventing paid games from being shut down permanently, failed in a Senate vote.