The Tetris Company says it was “not involved in the creation” of White House parody, takes “copyright infringement very seriously”

The White House launched Arcade.gov on September 4, a minigame site featuring five browser-based games, including “Build the Wall,” a Tetris clone. The game involved stacking blocks to prevent a “zombie border siege,” with its description stating “Protect the border from the coming horde.”

Shortly after launch, The Tetris Company issued a public statement asserting it was “not involved in the creation” of the game and declaring it “takes copyright infringement very seriously.” A company spokesperson emphasized Tetris’s 40-year history of bringing people together, stating the game’s objective is to “stack with purpose to clear as many lines as possible.” The Tetris Company indicated it was reviewing the matter.

Within days of The Tetris Company’s warning, Build the Wall was removed from Arcade.gov. The game’s disappearance followed closely after the copyright holder’s public statement regarding potential infringement.

The removed game had also drawn criticism for technical issues—filling horizontal lines failed to clear blocks as intended in authentic Tetris gameplay. Other games remaining on Arcade.gov included Flappy Bill, Rio Run, Supply Line, and Trump Savings Tycoon.

This incident highlighted how major gaming companies can prompt removal of infringing content through legal action, in contrast with other instances of government use of video game intellectual property without formal permission.

The Tetris Company says it was “not involved in the creation” of White House parody, takes “copyright infringement very seriously”

Sources