The White House removed the browser game Build the Wall from its online arcade after The Tetris Company said the title mimicked its trademarked block-stacking gameplay without authorization. The administration's arcade included other themed games such as Supply Line and Rio Run. The Tetris Company has publicly denied involvement, posted a warning on Instagram, and said it is reviewing the matter. Newsweek has contacted both parties for comment; the story is developing.
White House Pulls Tetris-Like 'Build the Wall' Game After Copyright Warning
Main image and right hand insert are screenshots pulled from The White House's Arcade.
The White House has removed a browser game called Build the Wall from its newly launched online arcade after The Tetris Company said the title closely resembled its trademarked gameplay and was not authorized or licensed.
The arcade, unveiled last week, featured several simple games tied to administration themes, including Supply Line, where players sort school lunches, and Rio Run, a border-patrol simulation. One entry, Build the Wall, used block-stacking mechanics that observers noted were highly similar to the classic game Tetris.
By Wednesday morning the Build the Wall game was no longer visible in the White House's Arcade section. The removal followed a public statement and social-media posts from The Tetris Company asserting it had no involvement in creating the game and had not granted any license or authorization.
"The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall' and did not authorize or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game," the company told Newsweek. "For more than 40 years, Tetris has brought people together across generations and cultures through play and joy. The objective of the game has always been to stack with purpose to clear as many lines as possible. We are currently reviewing the matter."
The company also posted on Instagram reiterating its position and warning against copyright infringement: "P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall'. P.P.S. We take copyright infringement very seriously."
Newsweek contacted the White House by email and reached out to The Tetris Company through its online contact form for comment outside normal business hours. Screenshots used in coverage were taken from The White House's Arcade.
Note: This is a developing story; further details may emerge as The Tetris Company continues its review.
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