60 ms·

WordPress.org seems to be used to refer to Matt Mullenweg [1], as he apparently personally owns it, though one of Automattic's lawyers said last week that it is

WordPress.org seems to be used to refer to Matt Mullenweg [1], as he apparently personally owns it, though one of Automattic's lawyers said last week that it is a non-profit that is separate from the WordPress Foundation [2]. The previous Executive Director of WordPress was also an Automattic employee. When they were announced in the role their employment with Automattic also wasn't disclosed [3]. [1] https://www.pluginvulnerabilities.com/2024/10/02/who-or-what-is-wordpress-org/ https://www.pluginvulnerabilities.com/2024/10/02/who-or-what... [2] https://www.pluginvulnerabilities.com/2024/10/03/automattic-is-now-claiming-that-a-non-profit-other-than-the-wordpress-foundation-controls-wordpress-and-wordpress-org/ https://www.pluginvulnerabilities.com/2024/10/03/automattic-... [3] https://make.wordpress.org/updates/2019/01/16/expanding-wordpress-leadership/ https://make.wordpress.org/updates/2019/01/16/expanding-word...

photomatt 2y ago
All the information in the links you shared is totally wrong. Our lawyers have never said that WordPress.org is a non-profit or owned by the Foundation. It's owned and run by me personally, and I have a trademark license from the WordPress Foundation to use the WordPress name and brand on the site.
- pluginvulns 2y ago
  Here is the original source for the claim, which is on Automattic's website: https://automattic.com/2024/10/02/wordpress-trademarks-a-legal-perspective/ https://automattic.com/2024/10/02/wordpress-trademarks-a-leg... The author is identified as Neil Peretz, who it says is an associate general counsel at Automattic. He says: "The Foundation also licensed the name WordPress to the non-profit WordPress.org, which runs a website that facilitates access to WordPress-related software." A graphic included in the post similarly claims that "Right to use name as part of non-profit activities" went to WordPress. With the arrow coming from the WordPress Foundation. We contacted Automattic's press email for clarification on that claim on Thursday. We have yet to hear back and the post hasn't been updated.
  - neilperetz 2y ago
    Hi, it's Neil Peretz. I was just alerted to your post. I understand there's a question you have. How can I help you?
    - legitster 2y ago
      I will ask on behalf of the entire Wordpress community - is there any part of the Wordpress cluster of organizations that do not ultimately answer to Matt?
      - neilperetz 2y ago
        Hi Legitster. I will work with colleagues on a response to your question. It's a broad topic given how many facets there are to the WordPress community.
        jonnypants83 2y ago
        come on, Neil... you just published 700 words on the topic. You even made flow charts! Are you now saying you don't actually have a solid understanding of the situation?
        nchmy 2y ago
        Given how poorly written that article is (and how he has no control of his client), its not clear that Neil is actually a real lawyer
        neilperetz 2y ago
        Despite our sometimes fervent wishes, lawyers don't control clients. We are not puppeteers.
        NeonNautilus 2y ago
        Matt has also claimed that you or someone else on his legal team has signed off on his posting. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41726834 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41726834 Is that true or false?
- vinnysgreen 2y ago
  You're so bad at this...
- that_guy_iain 2y ago
  Considering you own wordpress.org and the third link, that you claim is hosting completely wrong information, is on Wordpress.org you should ensure it has correct information. Especially, since it appears to have been written by you.
- softwaredoug 2y ago
  And therein lies absolutely 0 conflict of interest :) /s

photomatt 2y ago

All the information in the links you shared is totally wrong. Our lawyers have never said that WordPress.org is a non-profit or owned by the Foundation. It's owned and run by me personally, and I have a trademark license from the WordPress Foundation to use the WordPress name and brand on the site.

pluginvulns 2y ago
Here is the original source for the claim, which is on Automattic's website: https://automattic.com/2024/10/02/wordpress-trademarks-a-legal-perspective/ https://automattic.com/2024/10/02/wordpress-trademarks-a-leg... The author is identified as Neil Peretz, who it says is an associate general counsel at Automattic. He says: "The Foundation also licensed the name WordPress to the non-profit WordPress.org, which runs a website that facilitates access to WordPress-related software." A graphic included in the post similarly claims that "Right to use name as part of non-profit activities" went to WordPress. With the arrow coming from the WordPress Foundation. We contacted Automattic's press email for clarification on that claim on Thursday. We have yet to hear back and the post hasn't been updated.
- neilperetz 2y ago
  Hi, it's Neil Peretz. I was just alerted to your post. I understand there's a question you have. How can I help you?
  - legitster 2y ago
    I will ask on behalf of the entire Wordpress community - is there any part of the Wordpress cluster of organizations that do not ultimately answer to Matt?
    - neilperetz 2y ago
      Hi Legitster. I will work with colleagues on a response to your question. It's a broad topic given how many facets there are to the WordPress community.
      - jonnypants83 2y ago
        come on, Neil... you just published 700 words on the topic. You even made flow charts! Are you now saying you don't actually have a solid understanding of the situation?
        nchmy 2y ago
        Given how poorly written that article is (and how he has no control of his client), its not clear that Neil is actually a real lawyer
        neilperetz 2y ago
        Despite our sometimes fervent wishes, lawyers don't control clients. We are not puppeteers.
        NeonNautilus 2y ago
        Matt has also claimed that you or someone else on his legal team has signed off on his posting. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41726834 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41726834 Is that true or false?
vinnysgreen 2y ago
You're so bad at this...
that_guy_iain 2y ago
Considering you own wordpress.org and the third link, that you claim is hosting completely wrong information, is on Wordpress.org you should ensure it has correct information. Especially, since it appears to have been written by you.
softwaredoug 2y ago
And therein lies absolutely 0 conflict of interest :) /s