White House pulls down a Tetris‑inspired mini‑game
The U.S. White House website took down a "Build The Wall" arcade game that resembled the famous Tetris block‑stacking mechanic, after The Tetris Company flagged the design as a copyright violation.
Players had stacked neon blocks to build a wall and keep the border safe, a game that quickly grew viral thanks to its playful politics. However, the company that owns the Tetris trademark kindly (and legally) sent a notice, saying the game was not authorized and it takes copyright infringement seriously.
Following the complaint, the White House removed the game overnight, but five other mini‑games – including "Flappy Bill", a Flappy Bird parody that shows a bald eagle dodging national landmarks, and "Rio Run", a Snake‑like beat‑the‑line game that spots deportees – remain.
While there has been no public statement from a White House spokesperson, the incident highlights a trend of blending political messaging with video game culture on social media. It also reminds hobbyists that even a small, seemingly harmless game can still run into intellectual‑property law.
For game‑makers and fans alike, the removal offers a bold lesson: keep an eye on trademarks if you’re copying classic gameplay. And for politicos on the Web, remember that mixing pixelated monsters with serious political slogans can lead to unexpected scrutiny.
