ESA Walks Back 'Illegal' Server Claim After California Hearing on AB 1921
Updated
Updated · TechRaptor · Jul 1
ESA Walks Back 'Illegal' Server Claim After California Hearing on AB 1921
3 articles · Updated · TechRaptor · Jul 1
Summary
ESA replaced its blanket claim that community servers are "illegal" and "piracy" with a narrower statement targeting private servers that host or distribute copyrighted game content without authorization.
Jennifer Gibbons, the trade group's state government affairs vice president, drew backlash at a California Senate committee hearing when she likened such servers to a black market and said they lacked publisher safety standards.
The revised statement argues AB 1921 could weaken publishers' ability to enforce IP rights and says unauthorized private servers operate without publisher oversight, creating potential player-safety risks.
AB 1921 still failed to win a committee majority, but Stop Killing Games is seeking reconsideration while expanding its lobbying campaign in California and beyond.