Facebook Y-A-N-K-S Scrabulous

Popular Scrabble clone unable to withstand legal pressure

By Sam Biddle, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 29, 2008 10:52 AM CDT

(Newser) – Facebook took down the wildly popular ‘Scrabulous’ this morning, PC Magazine reports, following a legal attack against the game's creators by the rights holders of Scrabble. The site finally folded to pressure after receiving a takedown notice from Hasbro, as well as Mattel, which owns international rights to the original Scrabble.

Facebook voiced discomfort at complying with the takedown requests: "Over the past year, Facebook has tried to use its status as neutral platform provider to help the parties come to an amicable agreement. We're disappointed that Hasbro has sought to draw us into their dispute; nevertheless, we have forwarded their concerns to Scrabulous and requested their appropriate response."

The popular Facebook application 'Scrabulous' is no more, after yielding to legal pressure from the rights holders of Scrabble. ((c) ninjapoodles)

The popular Facebook application 'Scrabulous' is no more, after yielding to legal pressure from the rights holders of Scrabble. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

The popular Facebook application 'Scrabulous' is no more, after yielding to legal pressure from the rights holders of Scrabble. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Sellers, Fans at Odds Over Scrabulous

Companies debate legal action as 700K play online knock-off daily

(NEWSER) - Scrabble knock-off Scrabulous is a hit online, but sellers of the original board game have cried piracy and may take their claim to court, the New York Times reports. Tens of thousands of Scrabulous players have threatened to boycott Hasbro and Mattel if they shut down the Facebook-friendly game, which was invented by two brothers in Calcutta—and has given Scrabble an unexpected popularity surge. More»

Hasbro Sues Scrabulous, Warns Facebook

Game maker says unsanctioned online version must go

(NEWSER) - The makers of Scrabble say Scrabulous must go. Hasbro today sued the creators of the online knockoff, which is wildly popular on Facebook, and warned the social networking site to dtich the game, ABC News reports. No word yet on whether that will happen. Hasbro recently released its own online version of Scrabble, also available on Facebook, in conjunction with Electronic Arts. More»

End of Scrabulous Finally Near?

Facebook's official Scrabble application could oust popular game

(NEWSER) - Facebook users anticipating a goodbye to the site’s popular unofficial Scrabble game may finally see it happen when an official one comes out later this month. Hasbro and Electronic Arts are preparing the alternative to Scrabulous, which Hasbro says infringes on its copyrights. “We are keeping our legal options open,” a Hasbro rep told TechCrunch regarding its on-again, off-again battle against the hugely popular rogue version. More»

Hasbro Attacks Fabulous Scrabble Clone

'Scrabulous' application wildly popular on Facebook

(NEWSER) - Hasbro, maker of the classic board game Scrabble, is moving to shut down Scrabulous, a widely popular—and virtually identical—online knockoff. It's currently the ninth most popular application on all of Facebook, with 2.3 million users. Scrabulous’ developers estimate their app brings in about $25,000 a month, about which Hasbro is none too pleased. More»

Scrabulous Creators Spite Hasbro With 'Wordscraper'

Remodeled Facebook app seeks to get around copyright issues

(NEWSER) - The creators of Scrabulous are determined: Just 2 days after Hasbro forced Facebook to ditch their wildly popular online Scrabble impersonator, Rajat and Jayant Agarwalla have introduced Wordscraper, Silicon Alley Insider reports. The new game looks less like Scrabble than Scrabulous and offers a few rule changes, but it may yet provoke another takedown order. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Facebook Y-A-N-K-S Scrabulous

Popular Scrabble clone unable to withstand legal pressure

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Facebook • Hasbro • Mattel • Scrabble • Scrabulous

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Sellers, Fans at Odds Over Scrabulous

Companies debate legal action as 700K play online knock-off daily

Hasbro Sues Scrabulous, Warns Facebook

Game maker says unsanctioned online version must go

End of Scrabulous Finally Near?

Facebook's official Scrabble application could oust popular game

Hasbro Attacks Fabulous Scrabble Clone

'Scrabulous' application wildly popular on Facebook

Scrabulous Creators Spite Hasbro With 'Wordscraper'

Remodeled Facebook app seeks to get around copyright issues

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Facebook Y-A-N-K-S Scrabulous

Popular Scrabble clone unable to withstand legal pressure

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Facebook • Hasbro • Mattel • Scrabble • Scrabulous

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Sellers, Fans at Odds Over Scrabulous

Companies debate legal action as 700K play online knock-off daily

Hasbro Sues Scrabulous, Warns Facebook

Game maker says unsanctioned online version must go

End of Scrabulous Finally Near?

Facebook's official Scrabble application could oust popular game

Hasbro Attacks Fabulous Scrabble Clone

'Scrabulous' application wildly popular on Facebook

Scrabulous Creators Spite Hasbro With 'Wordscraper'

Remodeled Facebook app seeks to get around copyright issues

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?