‘The’ Scrabble attacks e-scrabble
p2pnet.net News:- “greetings, Slashdot readers,” said a post on the e-scrabble site at 98:35 am PST. “Due to a huge number of visitors coming in from the site Slashdot.org, e-Scrabble games are temporarily unavailable.”
Why was that?
Because THE scrabble sent e-scrabble, online for about two-and-a-half years and which you used to be able to play via e-mail and/or AOL instant messenger, a letter.
In the spirit of the movie studio and record label cartels which fire off Cease & Desist notices like they’re going out of style, Scrabble owners Hasbro Inc, “demand that you provide us with prompt written assurance that you will dismantle the e-Scrabble website and not publish or distribute the game referenced above, or any other game using elements of the SCRABBLE crossword game, in the United States and Canada without Hasbros permission,” it said.
And just to make sure, “Because the e-Scrabble URL is of no use to you, it should be transferred to Hasbro. We also demand that you provide us with information concerning the extent of your uses of any elements of the SCRABBLE game, as well as information regarding the distribution of your electronic Scrabble game to enable us to assess more precisely the extent of the damage done.”
To clear up some misconceptions, says e-scrabble creator Jared on the C&D page:
- “I have never profited from running this site. If anything, it has cost me a good deal of money to maintain.
- “The site launched in September 2002, and ran for the next 2.5 years until yesterday.
- “The site has always been free of ads, and never cost anything to play.
- “I have no relation to the fellow named Jared that does ads for Subway. Nor am I fat.
”
He also says he’d be happy to hear what you think, or if you have any advice.
“Feel free to send e-mail here: desist[at]e-scrabble.com.”
Something you think we should know? tips[at]p2pnet.net
<—–Programming is an art form that fights back—->
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See:-
e-scrabble – Hasbro sends e-Scrabble a cease-and-desist letter, March, 2005
March 22nd, 2005 at 5:50 pm
Well, if he was calling it Scrabble and duplicating the layout and play exactly, there isn’t a lot that can be done.
Hasbro had two choices: Sue him or recognize a superior product and talk to him.
They made the poorer of the two choices. Defending your property is one thing, but being able to integrate superior technology into yours is another that Hasbro didn’t take advantage of. Too bad for them.
March 23rd, 2005 at 5:18 pm
It’s too bad that Hasbro couldn’t be a little more tactful in their letter. I, for one upon getting such a letter, would be inclined to say “f” off. Also, it is laughable to think that someone that is infringing would supply information that is going to aid in assessing damages.
March 24th, 2005 at 1:23 am
Well I hadn’t heard of the site until now but I am very surprised that the guy decided to close it.
That letter definitely would not have made me cease and desist.
What crap.