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Hmmm, that's a bold move from Notch. I wonder how political activism in the US by a Swedish citizen is going to sit. Personally, I would just have thanked my lu

Hmmm, that's a bold move from Notch. I wonder how political activism in the US by a Swedish citizen is going to sit. Personally, I would just have thanked my luck for working in a country with sane patent laws.

gilrain 14y ago
The patent laws of the US always seem to reach across borders, so it's not surprising to see pressure from non-Americans.
krasin 14y ago
Notch was sued by US-based patent troll back in July, 2012: http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/patent-troll-targets-minecraft.html http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/patent-troll-targets-minecr... Notch just fights back.
fruchtose 14y ago
I think Notch is in a good position. Minecraft has huge draw among children. Think of how many politicians' kids might play it.
- jlgreco 14y ago
  Maybe my perception is skewed, but I imagine most American politicians' children being in their 20's to 30's. Edit: Apparently wikipedia really does have a page for everything: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_Senators_by_age http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_S...
  - jack-r-abbit 14y ago
    Our President's kids are 11 & 14. Sure that is just one case but I also imagine current generation of politicians is on the edge of a more recent trend to have kids later in life (not counting the other trend of having kids at age 14).
    - jlgreco 14y ago
      Obama is only older than 15 or so of the 100 senators. As far as American politics go, he is quite young.
- tedunangst 14y ago
  While I suppose Congressmen may make their voting decisions based on what games their kids like to play, I'd hope they'd consider other factors.
  - fruchtose 14y ago
    I would like that as well, but sadly a lot of U.S. politics seems to be based on personal factors these days...
RyanZAG 14y ago
Hardly political activism - he is just bankrolling others (EFF, American citizens) to do the actual activism. You'd be pretty surprised how much of US activism is likely bankrolled by foreign powers in China / Middle East. The bold move is declaring it openly, but it's not really that bold considering it is a very publicly favorable position at present, and it is in Notch's direct interests as he is creating but doesn't hold US patents. In any event, I believe the EFF is pretty much a global charity at this point? I just donated to them also with the latest Humble Bundle, and I'm not in USA.
hkmurakami 14y ago
Progress in the United States on this front is likely to cause ripples worldwide, including Sweden, so in that light I think the choice is more than reasonable. :)
krichman 14y ago
Bold? He's already popular on Reddit and this will double or treble the magnitude of that.

gilrain 14y ago

The patent laws of the US always seem to reach across borders, so it's not surprising to see pressure from non-Americans.

krasin 14y ago

Notch was sued by US-based patent troll back in July, 2012: http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/patent-troll-targets-minecraft.html http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/patent-troll-targets-minecr... Notch just fights back.

fruchtose 14y ago

I think Notch is in a good position. Minecraft has huge draw among children. Think of how many politicians' kids might play it.

jlgreco 14y ago
Maybe my perception is skewed, but I imagine most American politicians' children being in their 20's to 30's. Edit: Apparently wikipedia really does have a page for everything: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_Senators_by_age http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_S...
- jack-r-abbit 14y ago
  Our President's kids are 11 & 14. Sure that is just one case but I also imagine current generation of politicians is on the edge of a more recent trend to have kids later in life (not counting the other trend of having kids at age 14).
  - jlgreco 14y ago
    Obama is only older than 15 or so of the 100 senators. As far as American politics go, he is quite young.
tedunangst 14y ago
While I suppose Congressmen may make their voting decisions based on what games their kids like to play, I'd hope they'd consider other factors.
- fruchtose 14y ago
  I would like that as well, but sadly a lot of U.S. politics seems to be based on personal factors these days...

RyanZAG 14y ago

Hardly political activism - he is just bankrolling others (EFF, American citizens) to do the actual activism. You'd be pretty surprised how much of US activism is likely bankrolled by foreign powers in China / Middle East. The bold move is declaring it openly, but it's not really that bold considering it is a very publicly favorable position at present, and it is in Notch's direct interests as he is creating but doesn't hold US patents. In any event, I believe the EFF is pretty much a global charity at this point? I just donated to them also with the latest Humble Bundle, and I'm not in USA.

hkmurakami 14y ago

Progress in the United States on this front is likely to cause ripples worldwide, including Sweden, so in that light I think the choice is more than reasonable. :)

krichman 14y ago

Bold? He's already popular on Reddit and this will double or treble the magnitude of that.