WordPress developer Automattic sends cease and desist letter to WP Engine for use of WordPress trademark
Open Source, Trademarks, and WP Engine – Automattic
https://automattic.com/2024/09/25/open-source-trademarks-wp-engine/
We've sent a cease-and-desist letter to WP Engine for the unauthorized trademark usage of the WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks. They need to stop and make it right.
— Automattic (@automattic) September 25, 2024
You can read the full letter here: https://t.co/tRQJPWdqG3
WordPress is an open source content management system, and WP Engine offers a managed hosting service optimized for WordPress. However, Mullenweg claims that 'WP Engine has barely invested in the WordPress ecosystem. Moreover, what WP Engine offers is not the WordPress that it should be,' and goes so far as to criticize WP Engine as 'a cancer on the WordPress ecosystem.'
Automattic CEO and WordPress developer Matt Mullenweg sharply criticizes WP Engine as 'the cancer of WordPress' - GIGAZINE
For example, WP Engine has WordPress revision management disabled by default, and any revisions that are more than three or more than 60 days old are automatically deleted. Mullenweg said, 'Since WordPress is a content management system, all revisions should be tracked,' and pointed out that WP Engine is undermining the original functionality and value of WordPress for the sake of cost reduction. In other words, Mullenweg claims that 'WP Engine is omitting the core functionality of WordPress, but is still making a profit by claiming to provide WordPress.'
In response, WP Engine said, 'The attacks against us are unjustified, false and clearly designed to harm our business,' and called on Automattic and Mr. Mullenweg to retract their statements.
Since our founding in 2010, WP Engine has been dedicated to advancing the use and WordPress ecosystem which has grown far beyond the core…
— WP Engine (@wpengine) September 23, 2024
On September 25, 2024, the day after WP Engine requested the retraction of the statement, Automattic stated, 'WP Engine uses the WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks commercially to confuse consumers and generate $500 million a year in business. For many years, Automattic has granted WP Engine a commercial license to use the trademarks and has attempted to have WP Engine contribute to the core software on which it relies, but WP Engine has repeatedly refused to partner or contribute,' and revealed that it had sent a cease and desist letter to WP Engine on September 23.
In its cease and desist letter, Automattic demanded that WP Engine 'immediately cease unauthorized use of Automattic's trademarks,' 'report any profits from unauthorized use,' 'pay compensation for unauthorized use of intellectual property and unfair competition,' and 'prohibit future unauthorized use.' Furthermore, if the issue is not resolved, Automattic will file a civil lawsuit and consider seeking an injunction and damages.
Automattic said, 'WP Engine's business model is based on extensive and unauthorized use of the WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks, and uses the trademarks in a manner that misleads consumers into thinking that WP Engine is synonymous with WordPress. However, it is not true that WP Engine is synonymous with WordPress. This is an abuse of trademark rights and not fair competition.' In addition, Automattic published ' (PDF file) Evidence that WP Engine is abusing its trademark rights ' along with the trademark title.
The WordPress Foundation has also updated its trademark policy page to include the following message: 'While the abbreviation 'WP' is not included in the WordPress trademarks, please do not use it in a way that is confusing to people. For example, many people believe that WP Engine stands for WordPress Engine and is officially associated with WordPress, but this is not the case. Despite making a lot of money from WordPress, they have never donated to the WordPress Foundation.'
Trademark Policy – WordPress Foundation
https://wordpressfoundation.org/trademark-policy/
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