# Web Game Imitation: The Situation of *Diapers, Please!* and *My Baby or Not!*
The gaming sector has consistently faced troubles regarding game imitation and the theft of intellectual property. Nevertheless, a recent incident involving the indie online game *Diapers, Please!* and its purported unauthorized mobile imitation, *My Baby or Not!*, has reignited debates concerning the ethical and legal dilemmas related to game creation. This piece delves into the dispute, its ramifications for indie creators, and the broader concern of game imitation in digital marketplaces.
## **The Emergence of *Diapers, Please!* and Its Alleged Imitation**
*Diapers, Please!* was conceived by VoltekPlay, a petite indie group, during a week-long Game Jam. The game, made available for free on itch.io on February 23, 2025, presents a novel concept wherein players must pair infants with their parents based on visual characteristics. The game’s design and gameplay drew inspiration from *Papers, Please*, an acclaimed indie game recognized for its bureaucratic elements and ethical challenges.
However, merely three days later, a game named *My Baby or Not!* surfaced on the iOS App Store. This game not only presented identical gameplay and visuals but also replicated the exact description from *Diapers, Please!*’s itch.io listing. This revelation prompted VoltekPlay to assert that the mobile adaptation was a direct duplicate of their creation, “encased in a mobile format” without their consent.
## **How the Imitation Was Uncovered**
VoltekPlay initially recognized something was wrong when their itch.io page experienced an unexpected surge in traffic from Google searches. Intrigued by the source of this attention, they included a poll asking players how they had found the game. This led them to TikTok, where viral videos were endorsing *My Baby or Not!* as a popular mobile game.
Despite the visibility, many players who searched for the game presumably ended up purchasing the $2.99 iOS version instead of engaging with the free web variant. As reported by Sensor Tower, *My Baby or Not!* rapidly ascended the App Store’s paid games charts, amassing an estimated 20,000 downloads.
## **The Developer of *My Baby or Not!* and Apple’s Reaction**
The App Store listing attributed *My Baby or Not!* to “Marwane Benyssef,” a previously unrecognized developer. Further scrutiny disclosed that Benyssef had launched another game, *Kiosk Food Night Shift*, which seemed to be a direct replica of *Kiosk*, an indie title originally released on itch.io.
Upon realizing the unauthorized mobile launch, VoltekPlay submitted a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaint against *My Baby or Not!*. Apple reacted by urging the involved parties to settle the disagreement directly. However, following media scrutiny and public backlash, Apple took down Benyssef’s developer profile and all related games from the App Store.
## **The Broader Concern of Game Imitation**
This instance underscores a persistent issue in the gaming world: the unauthorized imitation of indie games. Although Apple’s App Store guidelines forbid clear copying, enforcement is frequently sporadic, especially when the original game operates outside Apple’s confines.
A similar episode took place in 2022 when the web-based word game *Wordle* gained massive popularity. Numerous imitations emerged on the App Store, some of which were monetized prior to Apple stepping in. Moreover, GameStop’s now-defunct NFT marketplace was discovered to be hosting unlicensed replicas of HTML5 games, further illustrating the hazards confronted by indie developers.
## **Safeguarding Indie Developers from Imitation**
The simplicity of decompiling and repackaging games, particularly those created with open-source engines like Godot, complicates matters for indie developers attempting to safeguard their work. Some creators have proposed utilizing encryption and obfuscation tools to complicate matters for those seeking to steal and repackage their games.
Nonetheless, legal options remain constrained. VoltekPlay has indicated that pursuing legal action against Benyssef is improbable due to associated costs. This highlights the pressing need for enhanced protections for indie developers, particularly those who share their games on open platforms such as itch.io.
## **Conclusion**
The *Diapers, Please!* situation acts as a cautionary example for indie developers regarding the dangers of game imitation. While Apple ultimately eliminated the unauthorized copy, the incident underscores the vulnerabilities of web-based games in an era when digital marketplaces tend to prioritize profits over the enforcement of intellectual property protection.
For indie developers, the optimal defense might combine technical measures, community engagement, and advocacy directed at platforms like Apple to implement proactive strategies against game imitation. Until stronger safeguards are established, occurrences like this will likely continue to afflict the industry.
