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.

  • JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    22·
    9 months ago

    WP Engine for WordPress.
    That seems to be the commonly accepted solution if you look at other 3rd party trademark cases - situations like “RIF is fun for Reddit” coming to mind.

      • JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        10·
        9 months ago

        Yes, because it used to be"Reddit is Fun", which wasn’t okay. That was the point.

        • interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.mlEnglish
          11·
          9 months ago

          So, a fig leaf trademark that banks on the confusion and they make millions of that legitimacy, millions that these middle man kick about 200k upstream for ?

          • Aatube@kbin.melroy.orgOP
            1·
            9 months ago

            I don’t see how RIF could potentially confuse anyone at all. WP Engine, maybe, but I’m not convinced. I mean, the US trademark office did allow the latter to be trademarked.

            • interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.mlEnglish
              21·
              9 months ago

              It’s an interesting parallel that ultimately RIF was kicked off the platform and the trademark issue in 2020 was just the prelude to the the hostility and removal from the platform and not the real core issue, which profit extraction from the captive audience of these platform