Matt Talks About WordPress Situation

Summary

In a video transcript, the discussion revolves around the trademark dispute between WordPress and WP Engine. The speaker clarifies that while WordPress remains free to use, WP Engine's business practices have led to confusion and potential trademark violations. Despite attempts to negotiate a resolution, including trademark fees or community contributions, WP Engine has not complied. The speaker emphasizes the importance of respecting trademarks and contributing to the open-source community, suggesting that WP Engine's refusal to do so has led to the current conflict.

Takeaways

• 😀 The interview discusses the relationship between WordPress and WP Engine, particularly around trademark usage and business practices.
• 📜 WP Engine was using the WordPress trademark in a way that was seen as misleading and in violation of trademark laws.
• 💼 The interviewee suggests that WP Engine has built a substantial business without adequately giving back to the WordPress community.
• 💬 There were attempts to negotiate a resolution over商标使用费 and contributions to the WordPress community, but WP Engine allegedly chose not to contribute.
• 🗓️ The issue has been ongoing for years, with numerous attempts at communication and negotiation between the parties.
• 🚫 WP Engine's servers were blocked from receiving WordPress updates as a result of the unresolved trademark dispute.
• 💻 The interviewee emphasizes that the WordPress open-source project and its community are distinct from WP Engine's commercial business.
• 💰 The discussion highlights the expectation that companies built on open-source projects should contribute back to those projects in some form.
• 🔒 The interviewee expresses concern that WP Engine and its parent company, Silver Lake, may engage in smear campaigns in response to the dispute.
• 🤝 The interview concludes with a call for WP Engine to support the WordPress community, either through financial contributions or by dedicating engineering hours to the project.

Q & A

What was the main issue discussed in the conversation?

The main issue discussed was the trademark dispute between WordPress and WP Engine, specifically regarding the use of the 'WordPress' name by WP Engine and their lack of contributions back to the WordPress community.

What did WP Engine allegedly do that was considered a trademark violation?

WP Engine was accused of using the 'WordPress' name in a way that confused consumers and did not give back to the WordPress community, despite building a substantial business on the back of the WordPress brand.

What was the proposed solution to the trademark dispute?

The proposed solution was for WP Engine to either pay a trademark fee to WordPress or contribute a certain percentage of their revenue or engineering hours back to the WordPress community.

Why did WordPress decide to enforce the trademark now rather than earlier?

The decision to enforce the trademark now was due to WP Engine's continuous refusal to negotiate or make any contributions to the WordPress community despite several years of discussions and attempts to reach an agreement.

How did the speaker suggest WP Engine could support open source?

The speaker suggested that WP Engine could support open source by donating to wordpress.org, contributing engineering hours, or paying a trademark license fee, with a fair amount proposed being 8% of their revenue.

What was the speaker's stance on the importance of giving back to the community?

The speaker emphasized the importance of giving back to the community, especially for companies that have built their business on open-source software like WordPress.

What was the speaker's response to accusations of being petty or aggressive in the dispute?

The speaker defended their actions by stating that they had tried to negotiate and resolve the issue amicably for years, and that the current actions were a result of WP Engine's refusal to engage constructively.

How did the speaker address the concerns about the community being affected by the dispute?

The speaker acknowledged the concerns and explained that the community might be temporarily affected, but emphasized that WP Engine could resolve the issue by agreeing to the proposed solutions.

What was the speaker's opinion on the role of private equity in WP Engine's actions?

The speaker suggested that the influence of private equity, specifically Silver Lake, may have contributed to WP Engine's aggressive stance and refusal to negotiate or give back to the community.

What was the speaker's final message to the community regarding the dispute?

The speaker's final message was a call for understanding and patience, stating that they had done everything they could to resolve the issue and that the community's support was appreciated.