Notch just posted some very comedic tweets;
Step 1: Wake up. Step 2: Check email. Step 3: See we’re being sued for patent infringement. Step 4: Smile.
— Markus Persson (@notch) July 21, 2012
But it looks like Notch is prepared to put up quite the fight, and, considering Minecraft has sold over 3 Million copies, that shouldn’t be much of a problem.
Unfortunately for them, they’re suing us over a software patent. If needed, I will throw piles of money at making sure they don’t get a cent — Markus Persson (@notch) July 21, 2012
The full PDF of legal documents that Notch was sent is uploaded here, and it appears Mojang has infringed there patent of “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC DATA.” While I have no idea what that actually means, we’ll be sure to update as more information becomes available. Notch also writes:
Software patents are plain evil. Innovation within software is basically free, and it’s growing incredibly rapid. Patents only slow it down.
— Markus Persson (@notch) July 21, 2012
This may also very well be patent trolls looking to make a quick buck, as they obviously don’t know who they’re addressing, being that they address it as “Mindcraft” in the screenshot below.
There website also shows very little in the form of actual work, it looks like they made a name for themselves suing Microsoft in the 90’s, here’s a quote about there business strategy found on the main page of their website:
Look at many ideas. Pick an outstanding one. Patent it. Commercialize it. Reap the rewards.
This is the internet equivalent to the slip and fall in a store.
Their dumb. Let it go.
Their.