The Scoop

the scoop

scrabble knockoff has returned

A popular Scrabble knockoff is back on Facebook. It comes with changes that could help it skirt copyright and trademark laws.

On Tuesday, the creators of Scrabulous voluntarily removed their version of the word game from Facebook, the online hangout. The Indian brothers behind Scrabulous made the decision after the owners of Scrabble’s North American rights filed a federal lawsuit.

Now, the game has reappeared with the name Wordscraper. The change could help it avoid any confusion with Scrabble. And the game itself has also changed. Instead of Scrabble-like square tiles, for instance, Wordscraper has circles.

classic jacksons remastered

It was their Destiny to Triumph. Whose? The Jackson 5, of course. When the hitmaking family released “Destiny” in 1978 and followed it up with 1980’s “Triumph,” its transition from boy band to grown-up superstar act was complete. In honor of its 30th anniversary, “Destiny” — with two bonus tracks of rare disco mixes — and “Triumph” (with three bonus tracks) will be re-released Sept. 2 on Epic/Legacy. Destiny contains the hits “Shake Your Body” and “Blame It on the Boogie.” Both albums have been remastered and include liner note essays by music critic Ernest Hardy.

rowling’s new book of wizard tales

News alert for Harry Potter fans: A book of wizard fairy tales written and illustrated by J.K. Rowling (right) is to be published for charity.

A British charity said Thursday it hopes to raise 4 million pounds ($8 million) through sales of “The Tales of Beedle the Bard.” Rowling co-founded The Children’s High Level Group charity, which supports institutionalized children. She has signed over her royalties.

The book is a collection of five wizarding tales referred to in Rowling’s Potter saga. It was initially produced in an edition of seven handwritten copies. Six were given away by Rowling as gifts, and one was bought by retailer Amazon at an auction in December for almost 2 million pounds ($4 million).

Rowling said the new edition would include her illustrations and introduction, the stories themselves and commentaries ostensibly by Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, “which appear by generous permission of the Hogwarts Headmasters’ Archive.”

The book will be published Dec. 4 by Bloomsbury in Britain and Scholastic in the United States Amazon also plans a leather-bound collectors’ edition priced at 50 pounds ($100).

new video games

In stores this week: Namco Bandai’s popular brawler returns with some new fighters — Yoda and Darth Vader — in “Soul Calibur IV,” above, (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3). ... It’s opening day for 2K Sports’ lighthearted baseball game “MLB Power Pros 2008” (Wii, PlayStation 2).

get ready for hinder

Hinder will release its much anticipated follow-up album to the rockers’ breakthrough triple platinum smash “Extreme Behavior” on Nov. 4. The new CD, “Take It To The Limit,” was produced by Extreme Behavior producer Brian Howes, and features the first single “Use Me,” which hit radio on July 15. Hinder revived the “live fast-play hard” work ethic embodied by many of rock’s seminal 1970s bands. Its debut album launched three successful singles, including “Lips Of An Angel.” The Oklahoma band performed in early 2007 at Eastwood Expo Center in Niles.