I guess my question would be how the original creator monetizing his version would prevent copycats from making a windfall. If anything monetizing would remove

I guess my question would be how the original creator monetizing his version would prevent copycats from making a windfall. If anything monetizing would remove a differentiating feature from Wordle, driving more traffic to copycats. The only way he can prevent copycats cashing in is to both monetize and use the revenue for marketing (and/or feature development). But then you have a business rather than a hobby, and it sounds like not a business he wants to be in.