Automattic vs. WP Engine
And now we now have the battle over WordPress, between Automattic and WP Engine, two WordPress internet hosting firms. I’m not aware about all the small print, and I don’t wish 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 all for “making” WordPress, i.e. constructing and contributing to the WordPress venture, and WP Engine is all for “taking” WordPress, i.e. utilizing the free software program to earn cash from WordPress internet hosting companies.
It’s not a violation of the WordPress license (GPLv2) to do what WP Engine is doing. It’s completely authorized. In truth, “taking” has been extremely inspired from the very begin of the open-source motion. In spite of everything, sharing software program, and benefiting from shared software program, was the entire thought. 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 dimensions of cloud internet hosting and the big sums of cash that might be concerned.
Automattic has taken authorized motion towards WP Engine over trademark violations regarding the usage of the title WordPress. (Apparently, the precise to make use of the WordPress trademark for industrial 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 emblems work, however I do perceive the notion of open supply. It’s under no circumstances shocking 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.
