[angoragoats]

Not sure if Matt ever reads HN, but in case he does I’d like him to know that I will never use or recommend Wordpress again as a result of all of this garbage. I hope the internet at large can move to something else and WP can eventually be consigned to the dustbin of history.

[photomatt]

I do read! And I hope you consider WordPress for something in the future and don't let a PE firm's bad behavior forcing us into a public fight cloud your user experience.

[angoragoats]

You were not forced into anything. You chose to take these actions.

Furthermore, you stealthily edited your trademark policy to make it appear as if the name "WP Engine" was violating it, when in fact you specifically called out (with no caveats) that the "WP" initials were okay to use for a decade. This demonstrates bad faith on your part.

If your company is harmed from these actions, then the blame will be squarely on your shoulders, and I hope your board of directors does the right thing and fires you.

Edit: To be crystal clear, and to address the rest of your comment directly, the only way I would consider Wordpress for anything of my own or recommend it to my clients at any point in the future is if you issued an unconditional apology and resigned from your position.

[photomatt]

The problem isn't their use of WP, it's their use of the WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks.

[angoragoats]

I never said that was THE problem, I was simply using it to show that Automattic is acting in bad faith.

Besides, that’s BS and if you don’t already know it you need to speak with a competent attorney. Trademarks must be defended in a timely manner to be maintained, and they’ve been using those terms for years. That ship has sailed.

Stop digging yourself a deeper hole and start thinking about what you can do to repair the goodwill you’re burning.

[jamespo]

How many potential Wordpress installs do you think you disavowing them will impact?

[angoragoats]

Not that many, frankly a drop in the bucket compared to the total number of WordPress[0] users, but I hope that others will take the same position. I have spoken to others who generally feel the same way that I do.

[0] This is nominative trademark fair use. Please don’t sue me, Matt!

[2Gkashmiri]

i'd like Matt to sue me for libel.

[MikeDVB]

Matt said “sue me” on a live stream and … he’s being sued.

Careful what you wish for.