https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/8/24094234/ny-times-wordle-clones-files-dmca-copyright-takedowns-knockoffs Skip to main content The Verge logo.The Verge homepage * The Verge homepageThe Verge logo./ * Tech/ * Reviews/ * Science/ * Entertainment/ * MoreMenu The Verge logo. Menu * Tech/ * Gaming/ * Entertainment The New York Times is targeting Wordle clones with legal takedowns The New York Times is targeting Wordle clones with legal takedowns / The publication has filed several DMCA copyright requests against Wordle knockoffs, citing ownership over the Wordle name and gameplay style. By Jess Weatherbed, a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews. Mar 8, 2024, 1:59 PM UTC Share this story * * * A person plays Wordle on their smartphone at the kitchen table of their home on November 26th, 2023, in Birmingham, United Kingdom Some developers have already taken down their Wordle clones to avoid a legal battle with The New York Times. Photo by Mike Kemp / In Pictures via Getty Images Hundreds of games inspired by Wordle, the popular web-based word puzzle, are at risk of being deleted due to copyright takedowns issued by The New York Times. As reported by 404 Media, The New York Times -- which purchased Wordle back in 2022 -- has filed several DMCA notices over Wordle clones created by GitHub coders, citing its ownership over the Wordle name and copyrighted gameplay including 5x6 tile layout and gray, yellow, and green color scheme. Two takedown requests were issued in January against unofficial Korean and Bosnian-language versions of the game. Additional requests were filed this week against Wirdle -- a variant created by dialect group I Hear Dee in 2022 to promote the Shaetlan language -- and Reactle, an open-source Wordle clone built using React, TypeScript, and Tailwind. It was developed prior to the Times' purchase of the game, according to its developer, Chase Wackerfuss. The Reactle code has been copied around 1,900 times, according to GitHub, allowing developers to build upon it to create a wide variety of Wordle-inspired games that use different languages, themes, and visual styles, some of which 404 Media says are "substantially different" from Wordle. The DMCA notice against Reactle also targets all of these games forked from the original Reactle code on GitHub, alleging that spinoffs containing the Wordle name have been made in "bad faith" and that "gameplay is copied exactly" in the Reactle repository. Numerous developers commenting on a Hacker News thread also claim to have been targeted with DMCA takedowns. Reactle coder Wackerfuss has removed the game, telling 404 Media he doesn't want to get into a legal battle with the Times. In a statement to 404 Media, the Times said: The Times has no issue with individuals creating similar word games that do not infringe The Times's "Wordle" trademarks or copyrighted gameplay. The Times took action against a GitHub user and others who shared his code to defend its intellectual property rights in Wordle. The user created a "Wordle clone" project that instructed others how to create a knock-off version of The Times's Wordle game featuring many of the same copyrighted elements. As a result, hundreds of websites began popping up with knock-off "Wordle" games that used The Times's "Wordle" trademark and copyrighted gameplay without authorization or permission. Amusingly, Wordle has itself been criticized over striking similarities it shares with Lingo, a 1980s game show that centered on players guessing five-letter words, with a grid that changes color based on accuracy. Most Popular Most Popular 1. Rivian surprises with R3 and R3X electric SUVs ----------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Rivian R2 revealed: a $45,000 electric off-roader for the masses ----------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Apple will cut off third-party app store updates if your iPhone leaves the EU for a month ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Fortnite's new season brings Greek gods to the battle royale ----------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Overwatch 2's Cowboy Bebop collaboration has won me back ----------------------------------------------------------------- Verge Deals / Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox daily. Email (required)[ ]Sign up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. From our sponsor Advertiser Content FromSponsor logo Sponsor thumbnail More from Tech * Illustration showing a family moving into a new house equipped with smart tech.Illustration showing a family moving into a new house equipped with smart tech. The woes of a blundering first-time smart home owner * A screenshot from Fortnite Chapter 5: Season 2.A screenshot from Fortnite Chapter 5: Season 2. Fortnite's new season brings Greek gods to the battle royale * Stephen Dubner speaking at On Air FestStephen Dubner speaking at On Air Fest Stephen Dubner is bullish on the podcast industry * A screenshot from the video game Populous.A screenshot from the video game Populous. EA just added classics like Dungeon Keeper, SimCity 3000, and Populous on Steam * Advertiser Content FromSponsor logo The Verge logo. * Terms of Use * Privacy Notice * Cookie Policy * Do Not Sell Or Share My Personal Info * Licensing FAQ * Accessibility * Platform Status * How We Rate and Review Products * Contact * Tip Us * Community Guidelines * About * Ethics Statement The Verge is a vox media network * Advertise with us * Jobs @ Vox Media (c) 2024 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved