WordPress.org bans WP Engine, blocks it from accessing its resources | TechCrunch
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WordPress drama went up another notch on Wednesday after WordPress.org banned hosting provider WP Engine from accessing its resources.

The blocked resources in question? Automatic security and features updates and plugin/theme repository access. Matt Mullenweg reasserted his claim that this was a trademark issue. In tandem, WordPress.org updated its Trademark Policy page to forbid WP Engine specifically (way after the Cease & Desist): from “you are free to use [‘WP’] n any way you see fit” to a diatribe:

The abbreviation “WP” is not covered by the WordPress trademarks, but please don’t use it in a way that confuses people. For example, many people think WP Engine is “WordPress Engine” and officially associated with WordPress, which it’s not. They have never once even donated to the WordPress Foundation, despite making billions of revenue on top of WordPress.

https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/26/wordpress-vs-wp-engine-drama-explained attempts to provide a full chronology so far.

Edit:

The WordPress Foundation, which owns the trademark, has also filed to trademark “Managed WordPress” and “Hosted WordPress.” Developers and providers are worried that if these trademarks are granted, they could be used against them.

  • AatubeOP
    -6•3 months ago

    I think we should agree to disagree that it was modified enough here.

    • @[email protected]English
      7•3 months ago

      There is no “enough”. Any modification at all takes their permission to use their trademark.

      Most allow you to do so within reasonable guidelines, but that only gives you the benefit of the doubt if it’s ambiguous. As soon as they tell you that you don’t have permission to use their trademark on your altered version, you can’t use it.

      • AatubeOP
        -3•3 months ago

        But is gatekeeping the configuration files or wrapping around the software really modification?

    • JackbyDevEnglish
      3•3 months ago

      I can’t go and modify something and violate their trademarks in the process lol.

      • AatubeOP
        -2•3 months ago

        You can’t, and I’m disagreeing that what they were doing counts as modification.

        • JackbyDevEnglish
          3•3 months ago

          Did they change anything? If so, it’s modification.

          • AatubeOP
            0•3 months ago

            That is the question. I think this is all perfectly achievable by only writing new, separate software to selectively gatekeep the configuration files without changing the source code of WordPress itself. Like I said, not dedicating more resources to WordPress.org doesn’t give WP Engine the moral high ground either, though.

            • JackbyDevEnglish
              3•3 months ago

              To be honest it doesn’t really matter if it’s modified or an entirely different product offering. It seems it is trying to muddy the waters with the name WP.

              • AatubeOP
                -1•3 months ago

                IMO that part’s entirely fine. After all, it is a webhosting engine for WordPress. Would you say the same about e.g. NameMC.com?