this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2024
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271
WordPress.org bans WP Engine, blocks it from accessing its resources (techcrunch.com)
submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
101 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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.

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 month ago (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

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

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Wordoress engine for wordpress ?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Reddit is fun is fun for Reddit. The WP is just WP, just like RIF is just RIF.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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 ?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month 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