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by shp0ngle 1630 days ago
Yeah, Tetris is very litiguous

And there is a precedent - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris_Holding,_LLC_v._Xio_Int.... - Tetris sued a developer of iOS game, and they apparently have precedent about "look and feel".

Add the name that is intentionally similar to "Tetris" and I don't think they have snowball chance in hell to win if they decide to go after them.

The gameplay itself and the rules are not copyrighteable, but "look and feel" is.

From wikipedia:

"Wolfson discussed which aspects of Tetris were copyrightable as expressive elements, and which aspects are part of the general idea that cannot be protected by copyright. According to Wolfson, copyright cannot protect the idea of vertically falling blocks, or a player rotating those blocks to form lines and earn points, or a player losing the game if those blocks accumulate at the top of the screen. However, Wolfson determined that several aspects of Tetris qualify as unique expression that is protected by copyright. This includes the twenty-by-ten square game board, the display of randomized junk blocks at the start of the game, the display of a block's "shadow" where it will land, and the display of the next piece to fall. Wolfson also granted protection to the blocks changing in color when they land, and the game board filling up when the game is over."