Automattic vs. WP Engine
And now now we have the battle over WordPress, between Automattic and WP Engine, two WordPress internet hosting corporations. I’m not aware about all the main points, and I don’t need to get into the personalities concerned or make judgments about particular actions taken, however it’s fairly clear that Automattic is a Maker and WP Engine is a Taker. That’s, Automattic is fascinated about “making” WordPress, i.e. constructing and contributing to the WordPress venture, and WP Engine is fascinated about “taking” WordPress, i.e. utilizing the free software program to become profitable from WordPress internet hosting providers.
It’s not a violation of the WordPress license (GPLv2) to do what WP Engine is doing. It’s completely authorized. In reality, “taking” has been extremely inspired from the very begin of the open-source motion. In any case, sharing software program, and benefiting from shared software program, was the entire concept. Free use of software program was a fascinating end result of the GPL, although the writers of the license most likely didn’t foresee the size of cloud internet hosting and the massive sums of cash that may be concerned.
Automattic has taken authorized motion in opposition to WP Engine over trademark violations regarding the usage of the title WordPress. (Apparently, the appropriate to make use of the WordPress trademark for business functions is owned by Automattic.) Definitely, the WordPress trademark has worth. I’m not a lawyer, so I don’t know a lot about how logos work, however I do perceive the notion of open supply. It’s by no means stunning to me that many individuals who’ve contributed to open-source software program get upset when others take their “child” and use it to make money.
