NYTimes Files Copyright Takedown Against Hundreds of Wordle Clones

https://sh.itjust.works/post/15922298

NYTimes Files Copyright Takedown Against Hundreds of Wordle Clones - sh.itjust.works

I hate copyright and the notion of buying creative ownership. They didn’t make Wordle, they shouldnt have any control over it.
That implies that the creator should have control. And doesn’t control imply the right to sell?
But they don’t have control over the clones, copyright don’t extend that far

Assuming that Wordle is copyrightable at all, why wouldn’t copyright extend to clones? How far do you think copyright extend?

What would be the purpose of selling or buying the copyright if you can’t stop the ones that are “stealing” it for free?

Copyright covers creative expression, not functionality. The code and unique design elements would be protected, but not the idea of a grid or guessing letters, etc (which all predate them anyway). Even the word list is difficult to claim protection to if it was generated by algorithmic filters on dictionary words (it probably was) because then the selection also isn’t expressive.