Has Apple taken action against apps that “clone” the popular online game Wordle, according to The Verge? They have now disappeared from the App Store after several outlets pointed out that a large number of knockoff games were named “Wordle” and had the same gameplay and user interface. Each takes advantage of the fact that developer Josh Wardle didn’t create his own iOS app. The Verge points out that while some “clones” are still seen on the App Store, they don’t use the Wordle name.
The “clones” came to the spotlight on Tuesday when a developer started to brag about how many downloads his “Wordle” version of the app had gotten. After a backlash from the community, he made his account private, but people have started to find many other similar apps on the App Store.
Apple didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request to confirm it took action against the Wordle “clone” app, but it seems unlikely that each developer will decide to take down their app within about an hour. If Apple does take a crack at these apps, its balance is clearly in favor of protecting the original games.
While there have been similar high-profile cases in the past — as Protocol pointed out, Flappy Bird and Threes vs 2048 were among them — it’s hard to imagine a recent example of Apple getting involved as much as it does today. Apple does have language about copycats in its developer guide, but it’s noticeably vague. Section 4.1 reads: Provide your own ideas. Don’t simply copy the latest popular app from the App Store, or make minor changes to another app’s name or UI, and treat it as your own.
