In principe hebben ze dan nog steeds een account nodig, ja. Je kunt overigens een minecraft server wel instellen zodat hij 'offline' is waardoor accounts niet gevalideerd worden. Maar of dat ook echt legaal is?
Zie
http://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Server.properties en dan de property 'online-mode'
Server checks connecting players against minecraft's account database. Only set this to false if your server is not connected to the Internet. Hackers with fake accounts can connect if this is set to false! If minecraft.net is down or inaccessible, no players will be able to connect if this is set to true. Setting this variable to off purposely is called "cracking" a server, and servers that are presently with online mode off are called "cracked" servers, allowing players with unlicensed copies of Minecraft to join.
true - Enabled. The server will assume it has an Internet connection and check every connecting player.
false - Disabled. The server will not attempt to check connecting players.
Programmer's Drinking Song: 99 little bugs in the code, 99 bugs in the code, Fix one bug, compile it again, 100 little bugs in the code. (go to start if bugs>0)