You might have seen a clever Tetris clone for the iPhone called Tris –- after all, it was the No. 1 free download from Apple's App Store –- but it's too late if you want to grab it.
As of Wednesday, the puzzle game is no longer available at the App Store, following a threatening letter received by Apple by The Tetris Company over alleged copyright infringement, says Tris developer Noah Witherspoon.
The disappointed college student writes this on his blog, entitled Two Finger Play.
"I'm afraid it's essentially game over. Do they have a case? No. Not really. I am convinced that if it went to court, the 'copyright' claim would get thrown out completely. The trademark, perhaps not -- but if I changed the name, to e.g. Trys, that would be much harder for them to argue."
Witherspoon says he doesn't have "the time, energy or resources to fight this battle right now."
While he understands The Tetris Company is protecting their interests, the approach they're taking "seems to me little more than petty bullying" Witherspoon writes. He also says Apple was more than courteous and professional when explaining to Witherspoon why the game had to be taken down from the App Store.
By Marc Saltzman for USA TODAYPhoto: Screenshot of the now departed 'Tris.'
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