The original creator of Flappy Bird, Dong Nguyen, has publicly distanced himself from the newly announced mobile remake, which is linked to cryptocurrency projects.
No, I have no related with their game. I did not sell anything.
I also don’t support crypto.— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) September 15, 2024
Although the initial press release did not mention any direct link to Nguyen, the marketing materials for the new Flappy Bird suggest otherwise. The homepage states, “Just a decade ago, I was the talk of the town … Sadly, I had to leave the fame and spotlight behind to go home and find out who I really am.” It continues with references to working alongside “my predecessor” to facilitate its revival. This could refer to Nguyen or to Kek, the developer behind Piou Piou vs. Cactus, who is acknowledged as a spiritual predecessor of Flappy Bird.
Concerns regarding cryptocurrency stem from a recent investigation by cybersecurity specialist Varun Biniwale, who identified questionable aspects of the new project in a post on his website. Biniwale revealed connections between Michael Roberts, the creative lead behind the new Flappy Bird, and 1208 Productions, a company affiliated with NFT projects and active in web3 since 2021. Although Roberts’ profile on X previously linked to 1208 Productions, it now redirects to the new game’s homepage. The official site for 1208 did not list any of its web3 or NFT initiatives at the time of this writing, although information about those projects may still be accessible through the Wayback Machine.
Biniwale further examined the website’s metadata and discovered references suggesting plans to integrate the game with various cryptocurrency wallets and leaderboards that might involve crypto influencers.
Nguyen first released Flappy Bird in mobile stores in 2013 but later removed it in 2014 due to concerns over its addictive nature. He conveyed to Forbes that it had “become an addictive product.” Since stepping away, developers have attempted to capitalize on its popularity by creating clones.
Documentation from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reveals that Gametech Holdings LLC, named by Flappy Bird Foundation as the copyright holder, filed a trademark claim in 2023. Moreover, a company named Mobile Media Partners, registered at the same address as Gametech, attempted to trademark the name in early 2014, around the time the original Flappy Bird was taken offline. They purportedly acquired the name from Apple’s App Store, with the trademark eventually being registered in 2018.
Another document from 2023 indicates that the current owner, Gametech, needed to utilize the trademark before March 27, 2024. It appears Nguyen filed an opposition in March 2024. However, Gametech’s legal team contended that Nguyen had not used the Flappy Bird name in a significant period and had publicly distanced himself from it. An exhibit cited the trademark registration from 2018, and since Nguyen failed to meet specific deadlines in the case, the challenge against Gametech was dismissed.
The website dedicated to Flappy Bird claims that the project involved a protracted mission to secure legal rights over the game.