White House Removes Tetris-Inspired Game After Copyright Complaint

The White House has recently removed a game inspired by Tetris from its online arcade following a copyright complaint from The Tetris Company.

Last week, the White House launched a new online arcade featuring games based on classic formats related to the Trump administration’s agenda. These included Supply Line, where players organize school lunches to enhance their healthiness, and Rio Run, simulating border patrol activities.

Among these games was Build the Wall, which closely resembled the well-known block-stacking game. However, as of Wednesday morning, this game was no longer accessible on the White House’s arcade section.

The Tetris Company made an announcement on Monday regarding this issue, clarifying its position by stating, “The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall’ and did not authorize or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game.” They emphasized the universal appeal of Tetris, highlighting its over 40-year history of connecting people across generations and cultures through enjoyable gameplay. The company further stated they were reviewing the matter.

“For more than 40 years, Tetris has brought people together across generations and cultures through play and joy. The objective of the game has always been to stack with purpose to clear as many lines as possible. We are currently reviewing the matter,”

In response to the launch of these games, The Tetris Company also issued a cautionary message on Instagram, reiterating their stance on copyright infringement. Their post included a reminder of their serious approach towards their intellectual property rights.