nanoUFONYTimes Files Copyright Takedown Against Hundreds of Wordle Clones
RightHandOfIkarosNew York Times really is hurting for money, huh?
I mean, in the USA you cannot copyright or trademark game mechanics, nor would those be protectable under DMCA, so everything theyre trying to claim will be immediately tossed out of court.
Theyre literally trying to copy Nintendo. They dont want to go to court. They want settlement money.
snooggumsSomebody pointed out in another post that wordle is the same thing as a game show from the 80s, including the five letter words and the square colors being highlighted based on being in the word or in the right place.
The New York Times is just bullying with nothing to stand on except the ability to spend more on lawyers than whoever they are suing.
Not just 80s, Lingo was a popular game show that aired in the 2000s and (from what I heard from a redditor a couple years back) still airs in some countries. Wordle is a rip-off of Lingo.
Under the name Motus, it aired in France without interruption from 1990 to 2019.
There were a few specific rule changes, after a while they started using 6- then 7- to 10-letter words (makes sense, since words tend to be longer in French and 5-letter words were a bit too limiting).
That’s interesting!
I remembered after commenting that Lingo is being revived and they also have some 6 and 10 letter words as well. Maybe they got that idea of Motus!
On the subject of game shows with adaptations that last a lot longer in other countries, Don’t Forget The Lyrics! still exists in France (“N’oubliez pas les paroles!”), is still quite popular and still airing every day on a major station. With occasional prime events, usually with champions or celebrities playing for charity.
If what I saw on wikipedia is correct, the original US broadcast only lasted from 2007 to 2011.
Interestingly the formula of the French version has changed quite a bit from the original too.