system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How are some game apps, such as "Words with Friends" and "Trivia Crack" able to get away with blatantly ripping off existing board games?

i.e: words with friends/ scrabble, scramble with friends/boggle, trivia crack/trivial pursuit, draw something/ pictionary...
gpt
Many things which people think are protected by copyright law are not and board games are one example of this. While the actual words used to describe a board game and any artistic assets are protected by copyright, the essence of the board game is not.

You might notice, however, that in a game like words with friends, the game board is changed. The design of a board is a bit of a fuzzy area in copyright law and it is often best to avoid a non-essential risk.