[metamichael]

WordPress Foundation: Owns the trademark

Automattic: Owns the commercial right to use and sell the license

This is done because the WordPress Foundation is non-profit. The legal intricacies of this have been worked out a long time ago. You want to use the WordPress license? Then you'll have to buy it from Automattic.

[re-thc]

> The legal intricacies of this have been worked out a long time ago.

Doesn't sound like. Most people are still confused.