Wordle v Worldle: legal battle ensues over game names
Wordle v Worldle: legal battle ensues over game names
Wordle vs. Worldle: Legal Battle Over Game Names
Origin and Popularity of Wordle
Wordle, created by Josh Wardle in 2021, gained immense popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was later acquired by the New York Times for a significant sum.
Worldle's Distinct Gameplay
Worldle, developed by Kory McDonald, involves guessing countries based on their shapes, differing fundamentally from Wordle's focus on words.
Legal Concerns Over Similar Names
The New York Times has raised concerns about potential confusion due to the similar names and appearances of Wordle and Worldle, despite their different gameplay.
Implications for Trademark Protection
The United States Patent and Trademark Office highlights the importance of distinguishing trademarks to avoid consumer confusion in the marketplace.
What reasons did the United States Patent and Trademark Office give for the importance of trademarks not being "confusingly similar"?
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) emphasizes the importance of trademarks not being "confusingly similar" to ensure that customers can accurately recognize and distinguish goods and services in the marketplace. If trademarks are confusingly similar and the goods and services are related, consumers may mistakenly believe that these goods or services come from the same source. This is known as a "likelihood of confusion," which is the most common reason for refusing registration.
How many people play Worldle each month, and how does this compare to the number of Wordle users?
About 100,000 people play Worldle each month, according to its creator, Kory McDonald. In comparison, Wordle has millions of users. Wordle's popularity skyrocketed during the Covid-19 pandemic, with people from all over the world competing and connecting with each other by sharing scores. The game was purchased by the New York Times in 2022 for a seven-figure sum. Despite the similarity in names, Worldle and Wordle offer different gameplay experiences, with Worldle focusing on guessing countries based on their shape, while Wordle is a word-guessing game.