Is Epic’s Houseparty a Stolen Idea?
Houseparty, an app sold to Epic due to slow growth, has seen a boom in growth due to COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders. While researching the app’s history, I discovered something striking.
Epic’s Houseparty, including functionality and name, appear to be stolen.
Five Years Ago
In March 2015, an app named Teleparty was launched on Product Hunt. Teleparty shares striking resemblance to Houseparty. First, the functionality is nearly identical. Second, Teleparty was previously called Houseparty.
Teleparty was conceived and built by a completely different team nearly a year before Epic’s Houseparty was launched, in 2016.
Epic’s Houseparty Team is Aware of Teleparty
In another twist, the eventual creator of Epic’s Houseparty (Ben Rubin) is clearly aware of Teleparty, via a tag on Teleparty’s Product Hunt page.
Ben followed up and thought Teleparty “looks awesome”.
Josh Elman, who would invest in and serve on the board of Epic’s Houseparty, is shown in a Teleparty screenshot by Hoover.
Amidst one of Houseparty’s later launches on Product Hunt, an astute commentor discovered the same breadcrumb trail detailed above.
Rubin never replied.
Is this new gem in Epic’s crown tarnished?
