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 main points, 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 occupied with “making” WordPress, i.e. constructing and contributing to the WordPress venture, and WP Engine is occupied with “taking” WordPress, i.e. utilizing the free software program to make cash from WordPress internet hosting providers.
It isn’t a violation of the WordPress license (GPLv2) to do what WP Engine is doing. It’s completely authorized. In actual fact, “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 thought. Free use of software program was a fascinating consequence 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 will be concerned.
Automattic has taken authorized motion in opposition to WP Engine over trademark violations regarding using 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 emblems work, however I do perceive the notion of open supply. It’s by no means 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.