Introduction: The Battle Over WordPress

WordPress is the world’s most popular content management system, powering over a third of all websites. It has revolutionized the way we build and manage online content, thanks to its open-source nature, which allows anyone to use, modify, and contribute to its development. However, with its massive success comes competition between companies that use WordPress as the foundation for their services. One such rivalry is between Automattic and WP Engine, two major players in the WordPress hosting space. At the heart of this competition lies a key difference: Automattic is a “Maker” of WordPress, while WP Engine is a “Taker.”

Automattic: The Makers of WordPress

Automattic is the company behind WordPress.com and one of the primary contributors to the WordPress open-source project. As a Maker, Automattic is dedicated to building, improving, and contributing to WordPress. Their focus is not just on offering a platform for WordPress hosting but also on ensuring the continued growth and evolution of the WordPress software. Automattic invests heavily in the WordPress community, funding development, and working to improve the platform. By doing so, they help shape the future of WordPress and maintain its integrity as an open-source project.

Automattic’s commitment to the open-source nature of WordPress is reflected in its legal actions as well. The company has taken steps to protect the WordPress trademark, ensuring that only authorized entities can use the name for commercial purposes. This move is designed to preserve the value of the brand and ensure that WordPress remains a trusted and secure platform for users worldwide.

WP Engine: The Takers of WordPress

On the other side of the debate stands WP Engine, a company that provides managed WordPress hosting services. As a Taker, WP Engine leverages the WordPress platform for profit by offering hosting solutions and related services to businesses and individuals. The company capitalizes on the popularity of WordPress and offers premium features, such as faster performance, enhanced security, and expert support, to attract customers. While WP Engine does not contribute directly to the development of WordPress itself, it plays a significant role in helping businesses deploy and maintain WordPress-based websites.

There’s nothing illegal or unethical about WP Engine’s approach. The WordPress software, licensed under the GPLv2 (General Public License), allows companies to use it freely, modify it, and build businesses around it. The goal of the open-source community has always been to share software and encourage others to benefit from it. However, the scale at which companies like WP Engine operate today has raised questions about how much they contribute to the community in return for the benefits they reap.

The GPL License: Encouraging “Taking” but Raising Concerns

The key legal principle behind this debate is the GPLv2 license under which WordPress is distributed. The GPL allows anyone to use, modify, and sell software based on the code, provided they adhere to the terms of the license. This freedom has led to the growth of businesses like WP Engine, which are allowed to profit from WordPress without necessarily contributing to its development.

However, some members of the WordPress community, particularly those who have been involved in the project for years, feel conflicted about companies like WP Engine profiting from WordPress without contributing to its ongoing development. Automattic’s actions, including trademark enforcement, stem from a desire to protect the integrity of the WordPress brand and ensure that the commercial use of WordPress does not undermine the community-driven principles of the open-source movement.

Trademark and Legal Issues: Automattic’s Stance

Automattic has taken legal action against WP Engine over alleged trademark violations. WordPress, as a trademark, is owned by Automattic, and the company controls its use in commercial contexts. This legal protection ensures that businesses can’t use the WordPress name to mislead customers or damage the reputation of the platform. While the GPL license permits companies like WP Engine to use WordPress software, the trademark issues highlight the complex relationship between open-source software, its creators, and those who profit from it.

Automattic’s stance on trademark enforcement also reflects the challenges that arise when a free, open-source project becomes a commercial success. The question arises: how do you protect the values of open-source software while also allowing businesses to profit from its success? For Automattic, ensuring that WordPress remains true to its open-source roots and that its trademark is protected is essential for the long-term health of the platform.

Conclusion: A Complex Relationship Between Makers and Takers

The ongoing competition between Automattic and WP Engine illustrates the tension inherent in the world of open-source software. While the GPL license allows companies to profit from WordPress, the question of how much those companies should contribute back to the community remains a point of contention. Automattic, as the Maker of WordPress, has a vested interest in maintaining the integrity and growth of the platform, while WP Engine, as a Taker, benefits from WordPress without necessarily contributing to its development.

Ultimately, both models have their place in the WordPress ecosystem. The challenge will be finding a balance between encouraging the growth of commercial enterprises built on WordPress and ensuring that the open-source community remains strong and healthy. As WordPress continues to evolve, so too will the relationship between those who build it and those who profit from it.