[None4U]

More like buying a fridge and then the landlord stops paying for electricity suddenly

[safety1st]

With the wrinkle that your landlord enthusiastically invited you to move in, and never made you sign a contract, but after your dog shed all over the place he started making ominous noises about how you'd better sign one equal to eight percent of your gross revenue, and every conversation with him is now very strained

[bsbsjsusj]

Buying a fridge. Plugging it into the neigbours outbouse, who also gives you free food, and you use both to run your cafe. Which is fair because the neighbour gives free food away to look the most christian and you pay for the fridge and most people don't want to run a fridge so they rely on your cafe.

[austhrow743]

This is accurate if by landlord you mean "the person in whose house you have been squatting without paying rent or signing a lease."

[immibis]

Actually, it's the person who signed a contract with me to give me a free house.

[austhrow743]

What is the contract that gives WP Engine the free house?

[ceejayoz]

The GPL, and WordPress's trademark policy, which up to a week ago stated " The abbreviation “WP” is not covered by the WordPress trademarks and you are free to use it in any way you see fit."

[commoner]

On the other hand, the use of WordPress servers is in no way covered by the GPL. WP Engine can pay for their own servers the same way Bluehost used to.

[austhrow743]

That someone gives you the right to use their code doesn't mean they're required to be a free hosting provider for you.

[ceejayoz]

Using the resources of the non-profit you control to kneecap a competitor to the for-profit you control makes that a bit more complicated.

I think it's obvious WPE wouldn't be in the clear with Matt even if they went and hosted a mirror/cache of the WP.org packages.

[fastball]

WordPress definitely did not sign a contract with WPE to provide free electricity.

[recursive]

Not a lawyer, but I think contracts require consideration to be enforceable.