Tetris Addresses Controversy Over White House Clone: “We Are Serious About Copyright Protection”

The White House recently launched an “arcade” section on its website featuring MAGA-themed versions of popular games. One standout is called Build the Wall, which closely resembles Tetris. The Tetris Company, the rightful owner of the game, has publicly distanced itself from this initiative and hinted at possible legal action against the administration for copyright infringement.

In a statement on Instagram, the Tetris Company emphasized its commitment to unity, stating, “At Tetris, we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them.” The company, co-owned by Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov and businessman Henk Rogers, expressed gratitude to its community, saying, “To our fans everywhere, we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community.”

They followed up with a comment clarifying, “P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall.’ P.P.S. We take copyright infringement very seriously.” Many fans have since urged the Tetris Company to take legal action against the White House.

If Pajitnov and Rogers decide to pursue this, it would mark a historic moment as the first time a video game company has challenged the White House over unauthorized use of its intellectual property for political purposes. Previous instances of the administration’s use of gaming content include AI edits of Persona 5, Halo-themed posts for ICE, and a MAGA remix of the Pokémon theme.

In March, a spokesperson for the Pokémon Company, Sravanthi Dev, addressed similar concerns, stating, “We are aware of recent social content that includes imagery associated with our brand. We were not involved in its creation or distribution, and no permission was granted for the use of our intellectual property. Our mission is to bring the world together, and that mission is not affiliated with any political viewpoint or agenda.”

Despite these statements, no legal action has been taken in the months since, even as reports suggest that Japanese officials are quietly urging Trump’s team to refrain from using video games and anime in their social media. So far, there has been no movement on that front.