White House removes 'Build the Wall' Tetris-style game after copyright warning
The White House took down its “Build the Wall” arcade game after the Tetris brand warned it could infringe copyright.
Last week the White House added a “Build the Wall” arcade game to its official site, joining other titles that promote administration policies such as immigration enforcement and health initiatives. The game mimicked classic Tetris mechanics, tasking users with constructing a block wall on the U.S.-Mexico border to fend off a fictional “Zombie Border Siege.” After the Tetris brand issued a statement that the game could constitute copyright infringement and that it was reviewing the matter, the White House removed the game by Wednesday, offering no public explanation.
The Tetris brand emphasized its focus on connection rather than division and clarified it had not created the game. Four other games, including “Flappy Bill” and “Rio Run,” remain available on the White House’s arcade page. The incident highlights the administration’s ongoing use of pop-culture imagery to advance policy messages.
