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Wordle rip-offs want your cash — but are they legal?


A viral game that’s inspired copious clones has exposed the complexities of copyrighting apps — and the shamelessness of greedy imitators. Wordle has attracted more than 2 million daily players since its launch in November. The puzzles challenge you to guess a five-letter word, but you can only play one of them a day — an appealing constraint in an era of ruthlessly addictive games. Another of its charms is that Wordle’s creator, Josh Wardle, made the browser-based game completely free. That good deed was soon punished. Zachary Shakked, an NYC-based entrepreneur, swiftly exploited Wardle’s generosity. Not only did Shakked…

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