Skip to main content

Unverified: Flappy Bird pulled by Apple after copyright complaint from Nintendo? [Updated: Not true]

flappy_bird_end-600x300

Update: Nintendo has sent an email to the WSJ denying that it has made any complaint about the app’s similarity to Super Mario Bros.

Apple’n’Apps,  a relatively unknown site without much of a track record, is suggesting that Flappy Bird may have been pulled by Apple after Nintendo complained about copyright infringement regarding the graphics used in the game. Those pipes do look “Super Mario-esque”. The developer Dong Nguyen had claimed he was withdrawing it voluntarily, and that there were no legal issues. But there’s some gray area there we suppose.

A person familiar with the App Store review process tells Apple’N’Apps that Flappy Bird wasn’t removed voluntarily by Mr. Nguyen, as he claims. It turns out that Nintendo got in touch with Apple regarding the art assets in Flappy Bird claiming that they’re in direct violation of their copyrights. Apple contacted Mr. Nguyen regarding the copyright claim, and that’s why we saw the new updated version with graphic changes to the pipes [as well as fewer ads]. Nintendo already decided that they had seen enough, and Apple is the one who pushed Mr. Nguyen to remove Flappy Bird (with 24 hour notice).

We’ve asked Apple for a comment, and will update if we receive a response, though the version arguably makes more sense than a developer voluntarily forsaking around $50,000 a day in revenue due to the attention the game was receiving. Dong Nguyen’s two other games remain on the App Store, currently ranking #4 and #18.

Apple is know to err on the side of caution where copyright complaints are concerned.

The app has also been pulled from Google Play, which tells us nothing either way: if the claim is true then Nintendo would have approached Google also, but equally the developer would have voluntarily removed from both stores.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

  1. ralph180 - 10 years ago

    This makes sense…

  2. abdulwahab16 - 10 years ago

    **** you Nintendo

    • Really? Was it impossible for the developer to just say: “Right then, let’s make everyone happy and replace these pipes with some tree trunks or something else”?
      Nintendo had the right. Everyone recognised those pipes as the same from Mario. Word of mouth got better for him because people could say “Have you played that game with the bird and the Mario pipes?” and that would make it immediately recognisable.

      I don’t completely buy into this report but I agree it makes more sense although I understand the reasons he presented.

    • Atheos (@ath305) - 10 years ago

      Nintendo has all the right to protect their IP and making money by stealing somebody else’s designs is not OK if you ask me. Besides, there is zero reason why this game should look like Nintendo’s. It’s not THAT hard to come up with some actual original design, you know.

    • Tallest Skil - 10 years ago

      Get over yourself, kiddo.

  3. adenlim - 10 years ago

    What the hell your people believe that Nintendo pulled it off
    He already said that this is not legal issues

    It was that he can’t take it that people are angry of the game of how hard the game is
    And users sent him death threats

    • φLord Risikaφ Will - 10 years ago

      oh yeah, i forgot. everyone who sais something on twitter is exactly right, for twitter can contain no lies. i forgot

      • φLord Risikaφ Will - 10 years ago

        there is definitely more to this story, but what that is we probably won’t know for certain

  4. Dan Uff - 10 years ago

    If that’s the case, then change the design of the pipes and the color of the bird?

  5. Sonia Denise Baker - 10 years ago

    Can you sell your phone with flappy birds installed or is it a copy rights I infringement unclear ?????

Author

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


Ben Lovejoy's favorite gear