Last week, an organisation called the Flappy Bird Foundation made waves by announcing the launch of a game named Flappy Bird. While this has sparked excitement among fans, with many viewing it as the return of a mobile classic, the original creator, Dong Nguyen, has made it clear that he has no connection to the new release.
No, I have no related with their game. I did not sell anything.
— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) September 15, 2024
I also don't support crypto.
Nguyen took to X (formerly known as Twitter) this morning to state that he did not “sell anything” regarding his iconic game. This was his first post on the platform since 2017. In its announcement, The Flappy Bird Foundation claimed that it “acquired the rights from Gametech Holdings, LLC,” which had apparently obtained the Flappy Bird trademark. However, it seems that Nguyen had no dealings with either Gametech or the foundation.
Dispute over the Flappy Bird trademark
The legal history surrounding the Flappy Bird trademark is complicated. According to Samperson, an X user, Gametech Holdings opposed Nguyen's claim to the trademark in 2023. This opposition came nearly a decade after Nguyen removed the popular game from app stores, citing the overwhelming attention and pressure it brought him at the time.
"But why would Nguyen sell the Flappy Bird Trademark??" "Hope he got his bag"
— Samperson (@SamNChiet) September 12, 2024
Looks like he *didn't*.
It seems like it's been long enough that the trademark was considered abandoned, so Gametech Holdings LLC filed against him, and just. Grabbed it for free. pic.twitter.com/EwVzuOLcHm
The US Patent and Trademark Office ruled that Nguyen's trademark was abandoned, officially terminating his rights to the Flappy Bird name in January. With this decision, Gametech could secure the rights they transferred to the Flappy Bird Foundation.
While the Flappy Bird Foundation did not explicitly state that Nguyen was part of the new project, its promotional material leans heavily on the nostalgia surrounding the game's initial release. The game's trailer devotes much of its time to reminiscing about Flappy Bird's meteoric rise in popularity and its abrupt removal in 2013. The trailer boldly declares, “In 2024, Flappy Bird will fly again.”
A Web 3.0 twist?
In a twist to the story, cybersecurity researcher Varun Biniwale discovered some hidden pages on the official Flappy Bird website, suggesting the new game might incorporate cryptocurrency elements. One page, which has since been removed but remains archived, indicated that the game could be linked to the Solana blockchain. It mentioned that Flappy Bird would “fly higher than ever on Solana as it soars into web 3.0” and encouraged players to “build, create, play, and stake to own.”
This potential addition of a crypto component adds another layer of intrigue to the new game. While blockchain gaming has seen increased interest in recent years, how fans of the original Flappy Bird will respond to cryptocurrency integration remains to be seen.
Not the same Flappy Bird
The new Flappy Bird is listed as “coming soon” on iOS and Android platforms. But for fans hoping to see the same game that took the mobile world by storm in 2013, it's clear this will not be the case. The original Flappy Bird, created by Dong Nguyen, seems to stay in the past.
