The New York Times is cracking down on Wordle “clones” that have emerged since the game skyrocketed to internet fame less than three years ago. The Times, which purchased Wordle in 2022, has filed several Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notices to developers of Wordle-inspired games, citing infringement on the Times' ownership of the Wordle name and its look and feel. The Times has taken action against developers on platforms like GitHub who created knock-off versions of Wordle, leading to hundreds of websites popping up with unauthorized games.

Many developers impacted by the takedown notices have expressed frustration, with some games being removed as a result. Vignesh Venkat, a California-based software engineer, shared his experience of creating a Wordle variant called Hardle, which was initially made for a friend's gender reveal event. Robert Brauneis, a professor of intellectual property law, pointed out that a German-language Wordle spinoff called "wordle.at" was also likely taken down due to a takedown notice.

While the Times argues for copyright infringement based on the game's name and look and feel, Brauneis believes the arguments are on shaky ground. He notes that game rules are not covered by copyright and that Wordle's registration with the U.S. Copyright Office only includes its computer code and specific text instructions - not colors or graphics. This absence of color or graphics in the registration could make potential litigation more tenuous.

Wordle creator Josh Wardle sold the game to the Times in January 2022, leading to its viral success and inspiring other games like Heardle and Queerdle. Despite the Times' efforts to protect its intellectual property, some experts believe that the arguments for copyright infringement may not be as solid as they seem. As the debate continues, the Times is celebrating the 1,000th Wordle puzzle with a nationwide party inspired by past Wordle answers.