This assumes it's validly copyrighted. I wonder if the wordlist is even registered with the copyright office (I can't imagine it is, they are pretty good about

This assumes it's validly copyrighted. I wonder if the wordlist is even registered with the copyright office (I can't imagine it is, they are pretty good about not accepting stuff like this). Additionally, to the degree that hasbro/whoever the heck claims a copyright on the work of other people, they are themselves violating various parts of the DMCA dealing with rights management info, etc. Hasbro/whoever should know that it is not possible to effect a transfer of copyright without an explicit signed agreement. Thus, if all these people contributed, and then they slapped a copyright on it, they own exactly nothing. (There is such a thing as a compilation copyright, but it it is a very minimalistic copyright, and assumes they actually did anything creative or original to the compiled list) If someone was to press this point against the scrabble players, they would A. likely lose as the list will be considered non-copyrightable subject matter B. If the list was somehow found copyrightable, and this story is accurate, they would be opening themselves up to copyright infringement lawsuits from the scrabble players who contributed to the wordlist. So they kinda lose either way.