Scrabulous slams Facebook removal

The creators of online word game Scrabulous have slammed Facebook's decision to remove the game from the site.

Jayant Argawalla, one of the brothers behind the game, said that it couldn't understand Facebook's decision to block the application on legal grounds.

Scrabulous has been inaccessible to Facebook members in North America for some weeks now but, until last Thursday, was still available to people in the UK.

The row involves the copyright holders of Scrabble, Mattel and Hasbro, and their requests to both Scrabulous and Facebook that the game be taken offline.

Papers filed in an American court by Hasbro led to the game being taken away from North American players and Argawalla said that Mattel was taking action through the Indian courts but that no judgement on the matter has yet been made. The game is still accessible in India.

"It is astonishing that Facebook, which claims to be a fair and neutral party, took this step even though they were fully aware of the circumstances under which the Mattel letter was sent to them," said Argawalla.

Argawalla said that the future of Scrabulous depended on the decision of the Indian courts.

"We now await the decision of the High Court and shall accordingly decide our future course of action with regard to Scrabulous," he said.

Players have reacted angrily to the block.

"I can't believe this. Utter stupidity for Hasbro and Mattel to take such a petty and childish action. C'mon people at Hasbro/Mattel. Grow up. This is promotion for you guys. You should be PAYING the Scrabulous creators instead of forcing the take-down," wrote one.

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