Clone Profile & Rules
Build the Wall
Select a profiled clone to test against Tetris Guideline standards.
Live Playfield Simulator
ACTIVE — ARROW KEYS / TOUCH
Directly manipulate pieces to test drop physics, ghost alignment, and lock delay mechanics.
IP & Trade Dress Diagnostic
Audited
Substantial Similarity Score
88 / 100
High Infringement Risk
Exact 10x20 well geometry, ghost piece, multi-preview queue, and standard tetromino shapes mirror protected expression identified in Tetris v. Xio.
Merger Doctrine Defense:
Weak (Many alternatives)
Scènes à Faire Scope:
Rules only, not layout
Trade Dress Overlap:
High (Total Look & Feel)
Leading Precedent:
Tetris Holding v. Xio (2012)
Audio Copyright Risk:
High (Derivative Composition)
Court Precedent Guidance:
"A game player cannot copy the exact dimensions, piece colors, ghost shadow, and visual display simply because the abstract idea is in public domain." — Judge Wolfson (D.N.J. 2012)
Legal Expression & Mechanics Dissection Matrix
Evaluating 18 key design parameters under 17 U.S.C. § 102(b), Merger Doctrine, and Trade Dress Law
| Game Element | Legal Status | Doctrinal Rationale | Tetris Guideline vs. Clone Status | Infringement Risk Weight |
|---|
Landmark Video Game Clone Precedents
Judicial boundaries between abstract game ideas and protected audio-visual expression
Tetris Holding, LLC v. Xio Interactive, Inc.
863 F. Supp. 2d 394 (D.N.J. 2012)
Xio created "Mino", copying Tetris mechanics and look. The federal court held that while the basic concept of falling blocks is unprotectable, the exact 10x20 board dimensions, 7 tetromino shapes, color choices, ghost piece display, and piece proportions constitute copyrightable expression and trade dress.
Atari, Inc. v. Amusement World, Inc.
547 F. Supp. 222 (D. Md. 1981) — "Meteors" vs "Asteroids"
Court found that similarities between Asteroids and Meteors were standard conventions (*scènes à faire*) of space shooting games (triangular ship, rock splitting into smaller rocks). The defendant escaped liability by altering ship controls, speed, and scoring mechanisms.
Capcom U.S.A., Inc. v. Data East Corp.
1994 WL 1751482 (N.D. Cal. 1994) — "Fighter's History"
Data East copied Street Fighter II character archetypes and joystick inputs. The court denied a preliminary injunction, holding that special move commands and martial arts stereotypes were standard genre mechanics, though exact visual animations remain protected.
Clone Compliance Auditor & Legal Memo Export
Real-time structured risk assessment export for game developers, counsel, and commentators
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