Tetris clone axed from app store

A popular iPhone Tetris clone will been yanked off the Apple App Store tomorrow, following legal threats against the developer.

College student Noah Witherspoon has been enjoying success with Tris, his free version of Alexey Pajitnov's 1985 puzzle classic, but when The Tetris Company contacted Apple threatening legal action, he realised the game was up.

Posting on his blog Witherspoon said: "Do they have a case? No. Not really. I am convinced that if it went to court, the "copyright" claim would get thrown out completely. The trademark, perhaps not — but if I changed the name, to e.g. "Trys", that would be much harder for them to argue.

"The trouble is, I'm a college student, and not an affluent one, and I simply do not have the time, energy, or resources to fight this battle right now. There's a point at which I am willing to give up and be practical, to let the world have its way with that ever-mistreated little ideal of principle," he added.

Those of you wishing to grab the game still have a day until it gets delisted, assuming you're desperate to play another Tetris clone, of course.

Thanks, Kotaku.