WP Engine Must Win

At WordCamp US, Matt Mullenweg delivered a keynote addressing the ethics of open source contributions, specifically targeting WP Engine and urging the community to cease using their services. This followed WP Engine's cease and desist letter, which revealed that Automattic, Mullenweg's company, demanded a significant revenue share from WP Engine for the use of WordPress trademarks. Automattic's CFO indicated they would "go to war" if WP Engine did not comply, suggesting an ongoing payment of tens of millions of dollars. WP Engine argues that their use of terms like "managed WordPress" is fair use under trademark law, as these terms are descriptive of their services. The WordPress Foundation's trademark policy has evolved, now stating that while "WP" is not trademarked, its use should not confuse consumers about WP Engine's association with WordPress. If Automattic's claims succeed, it could restrict the ability of various businesses to use "WordPress" in their offerings, potentially harming the open-source community and contradicting the Foundation's mission. The situation raises concerns about the implications for commercial entities using WordPress, as they could face arbitrary licensing fees or legal challenges. The author argues that WP Engine must prevail in this legal dispute to protect the integrity and future of the WordPress ecosystem.

- Matt Mullenweg criticized WP Engine at WordCamp US, urging users to stop using their services.

- Automattic demands a significant revenue share from WP Engine for trademark use, claiming they would take legal action if not complied with.

- WP Engine asserts their use of "WordPress" is fair use under trademark law.

- Automattic's claims could restrict businesses from using "WordPress" commercially, threatening the open-source community.

- The outcome of this legal battle is crucial for the future of the WordPress project and its ecosystem.