If you were lucky you downloaded Mahalis‘s free Tetris App labeled “Tris” from Apple’s iTunes App Store before it was removed this week due to alleged copyright infringement.

I’ve received notice from Apple that they’ve been contacted by The Tetris® Company about Tris. That, I’m afraid, is essentially game over.

Tris was not forcibly taken down from the App Store by Apple, but instead Mahalis voluntarily removed the App for the time being himself. Leaving The Tetris® Company’s Tetris App available on the App Store for $7.99 with no competition, surprisingly that price was lowered from $9.99 after Tris was removed.

Tris was actually around well before the iTunes App Store, originally created to work on Jailbroken iPhones installed via the Installer App, then later ported as an official App once Apple launched it’s iPhone 2.0 SDK. I contacted Mahalis to find out what the future holds for the Tris App. Will Tris be making it’s way back to the jailbroken scene via Cydia or Installer 4.0?

Mahalis has decided not to release Tris again on Installer or Cydia, instead opting to go the official route and stay in Apple’s good graces. Mahalis is working on making some changes in order to bring his App back to App Store. Here is what he had to say when asked about plans to re-release for jailbreakers:

No plans there yet; I’m still hoping to get official distribution, App-Store-wise, back up again.
I have strategies in mind, though “Trys” may not be far enough;

Hopefully we will see a new iteration of Tris, possibly labeled “Trys” in the App Store soon. Mahalis also had one last note for those thinking of redistributing his work through illegitimate means:

I’d appreciate the “don’t crack the .ipa and put it on Cydia” word getting around. :-)

He wants to remain in Apples good books to aid in getting Tris back to the masses.

Digg It!