A college student who developed a Tetris-clone called Tris for the iPhone and iPod touch has pulled his application from the iTunes App Store.

In his blog, the student, Noah Witherspoon, wrote of how he'd received a notice from Apple stating that his free application had been cited by the Tetris Company for copyright and trademark infringement. Apple warned that they'd take action if he didn't resolve the dispute himself, he said.

Not surprisingly, Witherspoon doesn't think much of the Tetris Company's assertions:

Do they have a case? No. Not really. I am convinced that if it went to court, the "copyright" claim would get thrown out completely. The trademark, perhaps not — but if I changed the name, to e.g. “Trys”, that would be much harder for them to argue.

Rather than fight, Witherspoon's decided to take Tris down today, as he simply doesn't have the resources (financial, time and energy wise) for a battle with the Tetris Company: "There's a point at which I am willing to give up and be practical, to let the world have its way with that ever-mistreated little ideal of “principle.”

Although he's pulled the app, Witherspoon may not be through with Tris, however, as he feels the Tetris Company has " little to no legitimate legal claim, and are, presumably, relying on my being a small developer with insufficient resources to defend myself."

According Witherspoon, "when I have the time and can find a good copyright lawyer, I'll be figuring out exactly what my position is and how I can make Tris available again."

[via CNET]