Tetris Clones Pulled From Android Market 396
sbrubblesman writes "The Tetris Company, LLC has notified Google to remove all Tetris clones from Android Market. I am one of the developers of FallingBlocks, a game with the same gameplay concepts as Tetris. I have received an email warning that my game was suspended from Android Market due to a violation of the Developer Content Policy. When I received the email, I already imagined that it had something to do with it being a Tetris clone, but besides having the same gameplay as Tetris, which I believe cannot be copyrighted, the game uses its own name, graphics and sounds. There's no reference to 'Tetris' in our game. I have emailed Google asking what is the reason for the application removal. Google promptly answered that The Tetris Company, LLC notified them under the DMCA (PDF) to remove various Tetris clones from Android Market. My app was removed together with 35 other Tetris clones. I checked online at various sources, and all of them say that there's no copyright on gameplay. There could be some sort of patent. But even if they had one, it would last 20 years, so it would have been over in 2005. It's a shame that The Tetris Company, LLC uses its power to stop developers from creating good and free games for Android users. Without resources for a legal fight, our application and many others will cease to exist, even knowing that they are legit. Users will be forced to buy the paid, official version, which is worse than many of the ones available for free on the market. Users from other countries, such as Brazil in my case, won't even be able to play the official Tetris, since Google Checkout doesn't exist in Brazil; you can't buy paid applications from Android Market in these countries."
I wonder if you made a Pac-Man clone instead? (Score:5, Funny)
Put it back up (Score:2, Funny)
Reply to Google thanking them for policing the internet, but that your application does not violate any laws. Next thing you know the maker of the whoopie cushion will issue taken down notices for farting apps.
Re:Oh noes, (Score:5, Funny)
I guess you're typing this on your original IBM branded PC, right?
(To everyone else: I hope to God he's not using a Mac, coz if he is, my flippant remark will be blown out of the water and then buried under a veritable Mt Everest of smug)
Re:Put it back up (Score:5, Funny)
Will the rest of your body be joining your head on its expedition?
Okay! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Here's an idea (Score:2, Funny)
Pfft!!! Create something original? That's just crazy talk!
Re:Falling Blocks is still available (Score:5, Funny)
Thief!!
Re:I wonder if you made a Pac-Man clone instead? (Score:3, Funny)
I would stay away from it - blocks are one thing, but dreams with Pacman can get really weird [kyon.pl], I guess.
(BTW, should we ban or endorse LG [kyon.pl]?)
Re:Instead of whining educate yourself (Score:3, Funny)