Thousands plead with Facebook to save Scrabulous

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 16 Jan 2008 at 16:27

Facebook is facing a tough decision after thousands of its users signed a petition to save the online word game, Scrabulous.

As we we reported earlier this week, Scrabble makers Hasbro and Mattel have asked Facebook to remove the game, claiming that it infringes their copyright. They've also asked Facebook to take down Boggle variant, Bogglific.

More than 4,000 people had joined the Save Scrabulous group on Facebook at the time of publication, and many more are likely to pile in, with the game estimated to have more than 500,000 daily users.

The move has provoked a furious reaction from Scrabulous fans. "I'm yet another person who has just bought the board game itself due to the application! I wonder if they've noticed a rise in sales since Scrabulous?," asks one angry petitioner.

"Surely they aren't stupid enough to really make Facebook pull Scrabulous?," asks another. "Seems to me an opportunity for Hasbro/Mattel to get publicity, cause a controversy, then act all magnanimous when they let Scrabulous stay."

The website now faces the unenviable choice of pulling one of its ten most poplar applications or facing a potentially costly lawsuit. However, if past experience is anything to go by, Facebook is likely to cave in to any legal demands, just as it did when subpoenaed by investigators back in October.

The makers of Scrabulous declined to comment on the legal proceedings, while Hasbro didn't reply to our request for comment.