A crypto-linked group gained control of the U.S. Flappy Bird trademark through a transfer from Gametech Holdings, after Gametech successfully opposed creator Dong Nguyen’s own trademark application. That legal history does not establish that Nguyen sold the original game or that the new group owns all of its intellectual property. Nguyen said he was not involved in the revival and had not sold anything.
How did control of the Flappy Bird name change hands?
The documented chain is Mobile Media Partners to Gametech Holdings to Flappy Bird Holding Ltd. The Flappy Bird Foundation says it acquired the trademark from Gametech in August 2024; a USPTO assignment record gives the effective date as August 23, 2024. The trademark record concerns the right to register and use the name as a mark, not every right associated with the original game.
| Date | What happened | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Nguyen removed the original game from mobile stores. | Nguyen’s decision to withdraw the game; it does not itself determine later trademark ownership. |
| 2018 | Mobile Media Partners obtained a U.S. registration for FLAPPY BIRD. | A registered mark existed before Gametech’s opposition to Nguyen’s application. Ars Technica later reported that Gametech acquired the registration. |
| November 30, 2023 | The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) issued a notice of default in Gametech’s opposition because Nguyen had not filed an answer. | The Board gave notice of the procedural default. |
| January 10, 2024 | After no response to the notice, the TTAB entered default judgment, sustained Gametech’s opposition, and refused Nguyen’s application. | Nguyen’s application to register the mark was refused. The order was not a ruling resolving every question about the original game’s ownership or copyright. |
| August 23, 2024 | The USPTO assignment record says Gametech’s FLAPPY BIRD registration and applications were assigned to Flappy Bird Holding Ltd, effective on this date. | The recorded transfer of the trademark registration and applications. |
The TTAB decision is a procedural trademark ruling: Gametech prevailed after Nguyen did not answer or respond to the notice of default. It should not be read as a court finding that the new project owns the original game’s code, art, or other creative assets.
Why could a new project use the name without Nguyen’s approval?
A trademark identifies a source of goods or services. The U.S. registration at issue was held first by Mobile Media Partners and then by Gametech, whose opposition to Nguyen’s application succeeded. Gametech subsequently assigned the registration and applications to Flappy Bird Holding Ltd, according to the USPTO record.
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That chain offers an explanation for the revival’s use of the name as a trademark. It does not establish that Nguyen approved the revival, sold the original game, or transferred its copyright. The Foundation also says it acquired rights to Piou Piou vs Cactus; that statement does not establish that it acquired Nguyen’s original Flappy Bird game assets.
What did Nguyen say about the revival?
On September 15, 2024, Nguyen publicly denied having a connection to the revival. Ars Technica reproduced his statements: “No, I have no related with their game. I did not sell anything,” and “I also don’t support crypto.” These are Nguyen’s statements about his involvement and position; they do not change the trademark assignment record.
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Nguyen had withdrawn the original game in 2014. In an interview from that year, as quoted by Ars Technica, he said: “Flappy Bird was designed to play in a few minutes when you are relaxed.” He also said it had “become an addictive product” and “a problem,” adding: “To solve that problem, it’s best to take down Flappy Bird. It’s gone forever.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What was the crypto connection?
Ars Technica reported that Michael Roberts, described in the revival announcement as its chief creative, had ties to the Web3 industry. The outlet also reported that material associated with the revival site referred to Solana, a TON Wallet, and a $FLAP token. An archived page reportedly described an open-source, community-owned Web2/Web3 game.
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Those details support describing crypto and Web3 as part of the project’s reported direction in 2024. They do not establish that every listed feature launched, that the game currently uses a token, or that the project still follows the same plan. Ars Technica reported that the Foundation had not responded to its request for comment when the story was published.
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What is—and is not—established about ownership?
- Trademark: The records and statements describe a path from Mobile Media Partners to Gametech and then to Flappy Bird Holding Ltd. The Foundation says it acquired the trademark from Gametech in August 2024.
- Nguyen’s role: Nguyen said he had no connection to the revival and had not sold anything.
- Original game rights: The TTAB order and trademark assignment do not establish the scope of copyright ownership or prove a transfer of the original game’s creative assets.
- Crypto features: The token, wallet, and Web3 references were reported in 2024; their current availability is not established.
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