Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, has been involved in a public legal battle with WP Engine regarding the use of the WordPress trademark and fees owed to the WordPress project. This conflict has escalated to the point where WP Engine has issued legal demands of its own.
However, Automattic’s stance on this issue was not a sudden development. An internal blog post shared with TechCrunch revealed that Automattic had been planning to enforce trademark regulations more strictly across WordPress and WooCommerce, its e-commerce platform, since the beginning of the year. The post, authored by Paul Simineski, Automattic’s former chief legal officer, outlined a strategy that involved additional trademark registrations, cease-and-desist letters, and a formal licensing program for partners.
In July, the WordPress Foundation filed trademark applications for “Managed WordPress” and “Hosted WordPress,” which are currently pending. Additionally, Automattic sent a cease-and-desist letter to WP Engine at the end of the previous month. Despite these actions, there has been no further public guidance on fair use from either Automattic or the WordPress Foundation.
The WordPress Foundation, a non-profit organization, has owned the WordPress trademark since 2010 when Mullenweg established Automattic to support the open-source framework. The decision to transfer the trademark to the foundation was made to ensure its preservation, regardless of any changes within Automattic.
Automattic holds the exclusive commercial license for WordPress and is now positioning itself as a guardian of the trademark. This shift reflects a growing tension in the WordPress ecosystem, where the collaborative nature of open-source projects must be balanced with business interests.
The internal blog post also highlighted Automattic’s concerns about trademark misuse, particularly in relation to Google Ads and hosting company landing pages. Automattic intends to work with Google to prevent the amplification of companies that misrepresent the WordPress brand.
The enforcement strategy for WooCommerce, Automattic’s e-commerce platform, mirrors that of WordPress. The company aims to maintain control over its branding and trademarks, with a focus on protecting its intellectual property rights.
Despite the ongoing dispute with WP Engine, Mullenweg emphasized the importance of trademark enforcement to protect the integrity of the WordPress and WooCommerce brands. Automattic is currently strengthening its legal team to address such issues more effectively in the future.
As the conflict continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether Automattic’s actions against WP Engine will set a precedent for further enforcement efforts within the WordPress ecosystem. Mullenweg’s commitment to upholding the trademark signifies the company’s dedication to safeguarding its assets and preserving the integrity of the WordPress and WooCommerce brands.
