Clones of Popular 'Wordle' Game Flooding App Store, Including One Charging $30 Per Year [Updated]

[laptech]

Hold on a moment. For the past number of years, court cases against Apple relating to it's app store Apple have been lauding the merits of why they control and manage the app store in the manner they do. They go on an on about how safe and secure the app store is and how much the app store benefits app developers and users and yet here we have a case of Apple clearly allowing an illegal clone of someone elses work to exist on their app platform and whats worse is that in the article, MR report that Apple does little to nothing about it

It's unlikely that Apple is going to remove these clone apps as apps and games based on stolen ideas are nothing new for the App Store. Many once-popular games have unfortunately been ripped off by other apps with no interference from Apple

An own goal by Apple in my opinion, defending itself in many app store court cases saying how good the app store is and why it should be left alone only for Apple to deal with and here we have an article from MR saying that Apple cannot be bothered to remove apps based on the stolen ideas of others. Way to go Apple.

 

[Jetscreamer]

A good hearted developer put out a free game for all to enjoy without asking for anything in return. And immediately, money-grubbing vultures decided to make a cash grab. Just one more example of why we can’t ever have nice things.

 

[Ostagazuzulum]

I mean there you go. As sad as it is, people want a mobile app, not a web app. Hopefully, the developer Josh Wardle is working on a mobile app.

Vote with your wallet and avoid $30/year subscription crapware.

I used the ‘Add to Home Screen‘ option. It pretty much looks and behaves like a mobile app.

 

[Briskit]

Clearly this developer made a better version than the "original" if it's doing that well. It enables competition. That is a good thing. Obviously who ever does it better, deserves the most audience.

 

[coolfactor]

Look at all of the comments trashing Apple, and now the clones have been removed. So where are the retractions? ?

 

[msackey]

No argument there. I'm saying what is the relevence of "not supporting" the creator, when he doesn't want monetary support?
iow, MR said we should be aware that buying the copycat apps is "not supporting" the creator. But using the creator's OWN game is also "not supporting" him financially, because he doesn't want support. So, basically, using his app, or using someone else's, results in the same: NO monetary support to the creator.

Support can come in many different forms other than finance. It can come in the form of recognition, web hits, reputation, and other non-quantifiable qualities.

 

[wanha]

Clearly this developer made a better version than the "original" if it's doing that well. It enables competition. That is a good thing. Obviously who ever does it better, deserves the most audience.

Are you really in favor of getting rid of all intellectual property laws?

 

[wanha]

Hold on a moment. For the past number of years, court cases against Apple relating to it's app store Apple have been lauding the merits of why they control and manage the app store in the manner they do. They go on an on about how safe and secure the app store is and how much the app store benefits app developers and users and yet here we have a case of Apple clearly allowing an illegal clone of someone elses work to exist on their app platform and whats worse is that in the article, MR report that Apple does little to nothing about it



An own goal by Apple in my opinion, defending itself in many app store court cases saying how good the app store is and why it should be left alone only for Apple to deal with and here we have an article from MR saying that Apple cannot be bothered to remove apps based on the stolen ideas of others. Way to go Apple.

In fairness, Apple did remove these apps from the App Store.

But your general point still stands - Apple is trying to have it both ways here.

On one hand, they argue that they must remain as the gatekeeper to the App Store to keep it private and safe.

On the other hand, they say that they can't possibly catch everything. But they don't even really seem to be trying...

 

[macgabe]

I have now found and downloaded "the official" original ITV Lingo ! (you need to get through 5 clones of Lingo and 50 clones of DuoLingo to find it BTW). It's crap! An immediate delete. Totally ruined by ads, coins, incentives, bingo and is extremely slow to boot. But essentially exactly the same as Wordle, just more cluttered. He took their game and gave it his name lol. To be fair, I feel that all those posting in favour (is that the correct spelling?) of "supporting this guy's genius idea" should download the original Lingo and play for at least ten minutes for a solid week to keep their consciences clear

Having said that I'm a great fan of powerlanguage.co.uk - I love the fact he pays homage to the original by using a UK domain name. Last time I was in London I visited that beautiful big church near the Houses of Parliament and also that iconic pedestrian crossing near the Beatles' recording studio … ;-)

 

[shotts56]

The real elephant in the room that no-one is talking about is the fact that he drops a US spelling on a UK domain name. That * should be illegal!

Exactly - I thought I was losing it this morning until I tried the US spelling. How frustrating !

 

[cardfan]

In fairness, Apple did remove these apps from the App Store.

But your general point still stands - Apple is trying to have it both ways here.

On one hand, they argue that they must remain as the gatekeeper to the App Store to keep it private and safe.

On the other hand, they say that they can't possibly catch everything. But they don't even really seem to be trying...

Apple likes the money. They won’t do much unless there’s an uproar about it. Think about how much money they’d lose if a scam app never had time to make it in the App Store. Also try getting a refund if you (or your kid) somehow are a victim to one.

 

[02-serious-stent]

Update: The Wordle clones have been removed from the App Store, and the only "Wordle" apps are apps that were in the App Store prior to the launch of the Wordle website.

And that is why Apple will rightfully get its ass handed to them by regulators and courts.

 

[Arran]

Clearly this developer made a better version than the "original" if it's doing that well. It enables competition. That is a good thing. Obviously who ever does it better, deserves the most audience.

To me, the big issue is that he impersonated a different product/supplier.

Impersonation misleads customers when making purchasing decisions. It’s dishonest. Eventually, when the truth comes out it undermines trust in the whole marketplace.

As a consumer I‘m good with Apple removing his app and other undifferentiated clones.

 

[gco212]

Copying the game is fine, it's not new. Using the name "Wordle," on the other hand, is blatantly misleading and fraudulent.

 

[wanha]

Apple likes the money. They won’t do much unless there’s an uproar about it. Think about how much money they’d lose if a scam app never had time to make it in the App Store. Also try getting a refund if you (or your kid) somehow are a victim to one.

Apple's decision to maximize profit from the App Store is quite possibly THE worst move Apple has made.

It has cost them tons of good will and invited heavy antitrust scrutiny around the world.

 

[JM]

Way to go MR! Investigative journalism for the win!

 

[JosephAW]

Where’s flappy bird when you need them?

 

[jlc1978]

Charging money?? For an app?!

Not cool stealing the name anyway. Apple should smack that down.

Apple needs to do something about clone apps with similar names. Perhaps registering names and not allowing reuse or simply adding Plus, etc. unless you are the original registrant. If an app doesn't get updated periodically or for a set period of time you lose the registration and someone else can also use the name.

(I say this as a lifelong, enthusiastic Apple customer and an Apple shareholder) Mr. Wardle should sue Apple. They are likely liable for contributory infringement. As the infringers have probably misrepresented to Apple that the apps they have uploaded for sale are their own IP, Apple would have every right to turn right around and sue them for damages.

Right - take on a multi trillion dollar company with a dubious claim to copyright since the game play is not new and other apps before that used the same or similar names.

Apple needs to look to a way to prevent copycat ripoffs but suing them is a death move unless you have lots of money.

So, if the creator himself does not wish to monetize his game, what is the relevence of some other activity "not supporting" the creator? He doesn't want monetary support.

The issue is they still have rights to their creation; although in this case it appears the idea is not new or unique. If the way it is presented is then that should be protected from copycats.

Simply copying someones app and name or close o same name is scummy behavior, even if the original app is free.

Clones are a big problem on the App Store. There's clones of my PiP-it app as well charging way more than I do ?

I agree direct copies are a problem; but the flip side is the computer industry of taking an existing idea and creating a copy that expands/duplicates on it without copying the design too closely. VisiCalc lead to 1-2-3 to Excel; and even Visicalc's idea built on prior financial modeling programs on big iron. It's a bit of a fine line.

Update: The Wordle clones have been removed from the App Store, and the only "Wordle" apps are apps that were in the App Store prior to the launch of the Wordle website.

It will be interesting if this is a new policy. I think Apple should ban reuse of a name or very similarly sounding names that create confusion.

Ah, that would explain it; we're in different time zones. So the claim that everyone has the same word isn't necessarily true.

If the two users are in different days in each time zone then the word being different doesn't mean everyone doesn't see the same word on the same day.

 

[unQuestionable]

Wordle isn’t even the first iteration of this game. I’ve played a game similar to this years and years ago with paper and pen. That person, I believe, doesn’t have to pay anything to the “creator of the mechanics” as it wasn’t the creator of Wordle. The only thing that’s shady here is copying the name: “Wordle.”

 

[webkit]

Look at all of the comments trashing Apple, and now the clones have been removed. So where are the retractions? ?

Apple was probably quicker to remove them BECAUSE of the negative publicity and trash talk.

 

[webkit]

And that is why Apple will rightfully get its ass handed to them by regulators and courts.

Apple "AppGate".....what did they know and when did they know it?!

 

[Boris Bronson]

I have now found and downloaded "the official" original ITV Lingo ! (you need to get through 5 clones of Lingo and 50 clones of DuoLingo to find it BTW). It's crap! An immediate delete. Totally ruined by ads, coins, incentives, bingo and is extremely slow to boot. But essentially exactly the same as Wordle, just more cluttered. He took their game and gave it his name lol. To be fair, I feel that all those posting in favour (is that the correct spelling?) of "supporting this guy's genius idea" should download the original Lingo and play for at least ten minutes for a solid week to keep their consciences clear

Having said that I'm a great fan of powerlanguage.co.uk - I love the fact he pays homage to the original by using a UK domain name. Last time I was in London I visited that beautiful big church near the Houses of Parliament and also that iconic pedestrian crossing near the Beatles' recording studio … ;-)

There’s a bit more to Lingo than what’s on Wordle. For a start, three lots of what I’d guess Americans would call “trailer park trash” spending most of the show not understanding the relevance of the green and yellow tiles.

Adil Ray has the patience of a saint.

 

[chr1s60]

This is the same kind of thing that happened years ago with Flappy Bird, minus the jerk charging $30 per year.

 

[svish]

Nice to know that all the clones have now been removed.

 

[Martin75]

No argument there. I'm saying what is the relevence of "not supporting" the creator, when he doesn't want monetary support?
iow, MR said we should be aware that buying the copycat apps is "not supporting" the creator. But using the creator's OWN game is also "not supporting" him financially, because he doesn't want support. So, basically, using his app, or using someone else's, results in the same: NO monetary support to the creator.

Using his own version IS very much supporting the creator. I'm sure he keeps track of many people use it and having 3M users is a way more useful entry on your CV than having 10k users. Just because it isn't direct monetary support doesn't mean it's not support and doesn't even mean it's not monetary, at least indirectly in the long run.