Statement on Legal Involvement ![rw-book-cover](https://patriciabt.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wp-login.webp) ## Metadata - Author: [[Patricia BT]] - Full Title: Statement on Legal Involvement - Category: #articles - Document Note: --- tags: - #WordPress - #LegalInvolvement - #CommunityGovernance Author: [Patricia T.] Source: [Patricia BT Blog] Reference: [https://patriciabt.com/blog/statement-on-legal-involvement/] date created: 2024-10-17 20:10 --- # Title: Statement on Legal Involvement in the WordPress Community ## Table of Contents:  - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#-notes) - [📖 References](#-references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) - [❓ Questions](#-questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) - [💡 Implications](#-implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) Assessment](#-deib-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-assessment) - [✅ Logical Validity](#-logical-validity) - [🔍 SEO Evaluation](#-seo-evaluation) - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) ### References: - Patricia T., "Statement on Legal Involvement in the WordPress Community," [Patricia BT Blog](https://patriciabt.com/blog/statement-on-legal-involvement/) ## 📝 Summary: This article discusses the escalating legal conflicts within the WordPress community, focusing on the fallout from recent lawsuits involving major players like Automattic, WP Engine, and independent plugin developers. The author reflects on the tension between open-source principles and corporate legal actions, emphasizing the need for a community-driven approach to resolving conflicts. ## 📖 Main Content: The post outlines the legal battles that have arisen in the WordPress ecosystem, with specific focus on Automattic's legal moves against WP Engine, and the implications these have for the broader community. It explores how the legal landscape is changing in the open-source world and how this may influence the future governance of WordPress. The author calls for more transparency and collaboration to ensure the long-term health of the community. ### 🗒️ Notes: - **Background**: - Legal disputes have become more frequent in the WordPress ecosystem, particularly between Automattic and WP Engine. - These conflicts often stem from trademark ownership, control over the plugin directory, and governance concerns. - **Automattic's Legal Moves**: - Automattic, led by Matt Mullenweg, has taken a strong legal stance against WP Engine, accusing them of violating WordPress trademarks. - Automattic's aggressive legal approach has raised questions within the community about the balance between corporate interests and open-source values. - **WP Engine's Response**: - WP Engine has responded by questioning Automattic's governance of WordPress.org and the role of profit-driven companies in the WordPress ecosystem. - WP Engine argues that Automattic's control over the WordPress trademark and plugin directory creates a monopoly that is harmful to other businesses. - **Impact on the Community**: - These legal battles have caused division in the WordPress community, with developers, contributors, and users questioning the future direction of the platform. - Concerns have been raised about the potential for these legal disputes to stifle innovation and limit community involvement in WordPress governance. - **Calls for Resolution**: - The author calls for a return to the open-source ethos of collaboration and transparency, urging key stakeholders to work together to resolve conflicts without relying on legal action. - A proposal is made for an independent body to oversee WordPress governance and mediate disputes, ensuring that the platform remains community-driven. ## 📖 References: - Patricia T., "Statement on Legal Involvement in the WordPress Community," [Patricia BT Blog](https://patriciabt.com/blog/statement-on-legal-involvement/) ## 🗣️ Paraphrase:  1. Automattic's legal challenges against WP Engine have highlighted a growing tension between corporate interests and the open-source community values that WordPress was built on. These legal actions could have long-lasting effects on how the community governs itself and resolves internal conflicts. 2. The author suggests that resolving these disputes without legal intervention would better serve the WordPress community, as it would preserve the collaborative and open-source nature of the platform. They advocate for the creation of an independent governance body to ensure fairness and transparency. ## 📰 Newsletter: In this issue, we discuss the recent legal conflicts shaking the WordPress community. Automattic’s legal battle with WP Engine raises critical questions about the balance between corporate power and open-source governance. As legal challenges escalate, it's vital for WordPress contributors and users to stay informed and involved. Discover the latest updates and what they mean for the future of plugin development and community-driven governance. Read the full statement [here](https://patriciabt.com/blog/statement-on-legal-involvement/). ## ✅ Action Items: This article directly addresses critical issues in open-source governance that align with my professional focus on transparency and community involvement in WordPress. The ongoing legal disputes highlight the need for stronger, independent governance structures to protect the collaborative nature of open-source projects. As a Developer Advocate and educator, I will emphasize these governance challenges in upcoming talks and workshops, stressing the importance of community-driven decision-making in open-source ecosystems like WordPress. ## 🧪 Hypotheses: 1. Increasing corporate involvement in WordPress governance will lead to more legal conflicts, potentially eroding community trust. 2. A community-driven, independent governance body would reduce legal disputes and ensure that WordPress remains aligned with open-source principles. ### 📊 Methodology: - Conduct surveys of WordPress developers and contributors to assess their views on corporate governance versus community-driven governance. - Analyze the outcomes of other open-source projects that faced similar legal conflicts to determine best practices for conflict resolution. ### ❓ Questions: - How can the WordPress community ensure fair and transparent governance in the face of increasing corporate involvement? - What role should legal action play in resolving conflicts within open-source communities, and are there alternatives? ### 🔮 Future Research: Further research should focus on how other major open-source projects have handled similar legal disputes and governance challenges. This could provide valuable insights into potential governance models that maintain a balance between corporate involvement and community autonomy. ### 💡 Implications:  If unresolved, these legal conflicts could lead to further fragmentation of the WordPress ecosystem. On the other hand, finding a collaborative resolution could strengthen the community’s commitment to open-source values and set a precedent for governance in other open-source projects. - Document Tags: [[Matt Mullenweg]] [[open source corporate contribution]] [[wordpress]] [[wpdrama]] [[wp engine]] - Summary: Initially posted on 16 October 2024, text last updated on 17 October 2024. Statement on legal involvement and my continued contribution to WordPress On 23 September 2024, in the - URL: https://patriciabt.com/blog/statement-on-legal-involvement/ ![Patricia logo signature](https://patriciabt.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20190105_patricia-logo.webp) *Initially posted on 16 October 2024, text last updated on 17 October 2024.* Statement on legal involvement and my continued contribution to WordPress On 23 September 2024, in the “Announcements” channel on the Make Slack, Matt Mullenweg informed the community that WP Engine has initiated formal legal action, and that anything we communicate on Slack, including in direct messages (DM), could be part of legal discovery. Then, on 9 October 2024, in a Meta channel thread, Matt clarified that everyone who participates in WordPress.org is in the position of possibly needing legal representation. 23 September 2024 capture from Slack ([link to the thread](https://wordpress.slack.com/archives/C024MFP4Q/p1727128075148229) in Slack) ![Slack screen capture 1](https://patriciabt.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/legal-warning.webp) 9 October 2024 capture from Slack ([link to the thread](https://wordpress.slack.com/archives/C02QB8GMM/p1728463928352389) in Slack) ![Slack screen capture 2](https://patriciabt.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/legal-representation.webp) I take Matt at his word when he says that we may all need legal representation. That said, I want to make it clear that I have no desire or intention to be involved in any legal actions. On 9 October 2024, a checkbox appeared on WordPress.org stating, “I am not affiliated with WP Engine in any way, financially or otherwise.” To this date, it has not been made clear what “or otherwise” refers to. ![wordpress org screen](https://patriciabt.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/wp-login.webp) Therefore, I would like to declare the following: * I purchased a lifetime ACFPro license from Elliot Condon Web Development PTY LTD on 25 September 2018, under invoice 140707. I retain access to my license. * I purchased a lifetime Genesis Framework license from StudioPress on 22 November 2012, including Adorable, Genesis, and the Pro Plus package, under invoices 120175 and 120176. I retain access to my licenses. * I have used Local by Flywheel (the free software version) but never their hosting services. The software remains installed on my computer, though I no longer use it. I’m not sure if the above makes me “Affiliated with WP Engine in any way, financially or otherwise”. Furthermore, I’m not affilliated with WordPress.com or Automattic, and only purchased now expired products from the WooCommerce marketplace. I do not have any websites hosted either on WP Engine services or paid[1](https://patriciabt.com/blog/statement-on-legal-involvement/#16434664-c902-49d4-9598-893218f92522) on Automattic’s WordPress.com/Pressable. My clients sites are hosted on [Infomaniak](https://www.infomaniak.com/), [AlpHosting](https://www.alphosting.ch/), [o2Switch](https://www.o2switch.fr/), and other European hosts. My own sites are hosted on [Hetzner cloud](https://www.hetzner.com/cloud/) servers with a panel service by [RunCloud](https://runcloud.io/). Two of the free projects I’m involved with use [robotstxt.es](https://www.robotstxt.es/) and [cyon](https://www.cyon.ch/) as hosts. I have not logged in to WordPress.org since 9 October 2024, but I *may need to log in after publishing this statement on 16 October 2024, and thus check the box even though I find unethical to ask us to do so*, in order to continue with the following contributions, some of which are dear to my heart: * Accessing [my profile](https://profiles.wordpress.org/patricia70/) in case I need to update the number of hours I contribute to the WordPress project. * Accessing the WordCamp dashboards I am currently mentoring in my role as an “event supporter”. * Participating in the current [cohort 3 of the Contributor Mentorship program](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/contributor-day/contributor-working-group/contributor-mentorship-program-cohort-3-white-paper/) ❤️. * Organising a [Contributor Day](https://github.com/WordPress/wp-contributor-working-group-tracker/discussions/7#discussioncomment-10366992) focused on BuddyPress ❤️ and bbPress ❤️ as part of the Contributor Mentorship Program. * Participating in the current [Translation Week](https://translate.wordpress.org/events/2024/wordpress-translation-week-2024-online/) event. * Translating strings [into French](https://translate.wordpress.org/locale/fr/) for various plugins. * Accessing the GatherPress ❤️ [support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gatherpress/) in case I need to help a user. * Accessing other plugin [support forums](https://wordpress.org/support/forums/) if I need assistance or want to raise concerns. * Getting tickets for several events ❤️ as an organiser, a volunteer, a speaker or a simple attendee. * (My involvement with the WordCamp Europe 2025 ❤️ organising team does not require me to log in to WordPress.org until I need to get my ticket). Lastly, I want to make it clear that, as a resident of Geneva, Switzerland, my place of jurisdiction is Geneva, and I categorically refuse to be cited in any legal actions elsewhere. I also want to state that I cannot afford legal representation. I remain dedicated to the WordPress community and my continued contributions. However, I also maintain my right to protect myself from unnecessary legal complications arising from this situation. *Added on 17 October 2024* ***Disclaimer**: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not represent the views of my [sponsors](https://patriciabt.com/wordpress/sponsor/) or the projects I am part of, such as the WordCamp Europe organising team, the WordPress Contributor Mentorship Program, my roles in the Make Community team, or GatherPress community engagement. If there is any conflict with these projects, I welcome any feedback, and I am open to stepping down from my roles.* *These opinions and texts are mine, with the assistance of ChatGPT solely to improve the quality of the English language.* Footnote: 1. Added on 17 October 2024. I have a free wordpress.com account which I used in the past in conjunction with free Jetpack and Akismet services. I still use it to subscribe to notifications from other sites and to log into some P2 workspaces in conjunction with my role on the WCEU organising team. I also have free accounts on Tumblr, Gravatar and Crowdsignal. [↩︎](https://patriciabt.com/blog/statement-on-legal-involvement/#16434664-c902-49d4-9598-893218f92522-link), Statement on Legal Involvement, Patricia BT, 01jadgv0amyby0zmzjnn2gmadq.