The White House has removed a Tetris-style game from its website after The Tetris Company publicly stated its commitment to protecting intellectual property. The game, which was part of a collection of web games launched on September 4, featured a mechanic where players built a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Shortly after the site’s launch, The Tetris Company issued a statement emphasizing that it had no affiliation with the game and that it takes copyright infringement "very seriously." The company has a documented history of pursuing legal action against unauthorized clones and derivatives of its iconic puzzle game. This stance appears to have prompted the White House to take down the "Build the Wall" game.
As of September 8, the Tetris clone was no longer playable on the White House's web game portal. This incident marks one of the first instances where a video game company has seemingly issued a legal threat, or at least a strong warning, against the Trump administration's use of video game-related imagery. While the White House has previously utilized elements from franchises like Halo, Pokémon, Call of Duty, and Animal Crossing in propaganda, other companies have largely responded by stating their non-involvement without hinting at legal recourse. The Tetris Company's direct action suggests a willingness to enforce its copyright, leading to the game's swift removal.