update article

markdown/The Missteps of WordPress and Automattic: A Looming Threat to the Community.md

@@ -61,6 +61,59 @@ The WordPress community has always thrived on collaboration and shared success.
 
 The time for course correction is now.
 
+# UPDATE 9.27
+## Matt Mullenweg Talks About WordPress Situation
+
+https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6F0PgMcKWM
+
+### Community Sentiment Update
+
+The impromptu interview with Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic, has sparked widespread debate and a mix of emotions in the WordPress community. Matt's appearance was unexpected, leading to an unrehearsed discussion where he addressed a range of concerns, particularly surrounding the ongoing trademark disputes with WP Engine. The comment section of the video reveals a deepening divide within the community, as many users express frustration, confusion, and skepticism regarding both the handling of WordPress's trademark policies and Matt’s responses during the interview. 
+
+### Concerns About Trademark Enforcement and Legal Strategy
+
+One of the core issues brought up in the interview is Automattic’s aggressive enforcement of the WordPress trademark, particularly against WP Engine, a prominent managed hosting provider. While many in the community believe WP Engine has built a successful business around the open-source CMS, Automattic’s insistence on contribution requirements has led to accusations of overreach. 
+
+For example, one user, @distilledmark, expressed concern that Matt’s stance could signal a shift in the WordPress ecosystem, where any company using “WP” in their name could become a target for trademark enforcement. Another commenter, @sodapoppug, pointed out the irony of trademark disputes over the use of "WP," noting how “saying 'WP' seems to defeat the purpose of speaking in acronyms since it’s twice as many syllables as just saying 'WordPress.’” This playful jab reflects a broader sentiment that the enforcement seems heavy-handed and unnecessary, especially when smaller businesses have been using "WP" in good faith for years without issue.
+
+This concern is amplified by @nephatrine’s comment, which underscores how WP Engine’s branding may confuse users into thinking they are affiliated with the core WordPress project. The fear that Automattic’s legal actions may extend beyond WP Engine is echoed by many commenters, including @SoreBrain, who admits that they initially thought WP Engine was an official part of WordPress. This shows the confusion that exists within the community regarding the relationships between various WordPress-related companies.
+
+### Community Frustration Over Matt’s Responses
+
+Throughout the interview, many viewers felt that Matt failed to provide clear, fact-based answers to critical questions, often deflecting or giving vague responses. One commenter, @maxdayton614, criticized Matt for relying too much on emotional appeals rather than presenting concrete evidence. They noted that most of Matt’s arguments seemed to be based on personal frustration, such as his claim that WP Engine hasn’t contributed enough hours or money to WordPress. They wrote, “Almost every answer was emotionally charged. 'I’m the one committing to open source' or 'Look at all of the companies in good standing with me.'” This sentiment was echoed by others who were disappointed in the lack of legal documentation or hard evidence presented during the interview.
+
+Another user, @rafalfaro, took a more critical stance, stating, “It should've been damage control, but he doubled down instead,” referring to Matt’s decision to continue pushing his point rather than acknowledging the potential faults in his legal strategy. This approach led to several comments questioning whether Matt was being entirely forthright during the interview. @datguy4104 added, “Around 11 minutes in, he says ‘Yeah, it’s open-source, you can do what you want with it,’ then at 15:15 refers to altering the Stripe plugin as ‘hacking’ it. He is very careful about using specific language to paint WP Engine as the bad guy.”
+
+For some viewers, the lack of specificity was a major issue. @rns10 highlighted this by writing, “There is no definitive evidence in front of the public that what WP Engine is doing is wrong. Matt is going from a perspective of keeping his word, but without any written communication, WP Engine’s lawyers will chew him out.” This reflects a growing concern among the community that Matt’s personal frustrations are driving the legal battle, rather than a solid legal foundation.
+
+### Ethical vs. Legal Obligations
+
+Many commenters discussed the broader ethical implications of the situation, with some agreeing that WP Engine, as a highly profitable company, should be contributing more to the WordPress ecosystem. However, the method of enforcing this contribution through legal threats and trademark enforcement was seen as problematic. 
+
+@shableep raised an insightful point, arguing that while Matt may be ethically correct in believing that companies profiting from WordPress should contribute, the way Automattic has managed these situations feels coercive. They wrote, “At what level of revenue must you hit before you have to contribute or risk having the trademark enforced? Hosts are at the whim of when Matt decides enough is enough, and they must contribute. […] I think the way he’s been managing it by nudging these companies in the ‘right direction’ but asking for fees or contributions and it leading to an ‘or else’ conversation is probably, technically, extortion, even if his heart is in the right place.”
+
+Other users like @roadrunner2324 attempted to summarize Matt’s stance: “Everyone is allowed to use the WP trademark, but if your company is making half a billion in revenue, and your huge base of clients consumes the official WordPress endpoints, then they would like you to pay for their license OR pay that amount in hours/contribution to the core to make the platform better for everyone.”
+
+This comment captures the frustration many feel about the blurred lines between WordPress’s open-source nature and the business side of Automattic’s trademark policies. It highlights the delicate balance between open-source values and corporate realities—something that many users believe Matt is mishandling.
+
+### Calls for Greater Transparency and Communication
+
+A recurring theme in the comment section was the demand for more transparency and clearer guidelines from Automattic. Many viewers pointed out that the lack of clarity surrounding contribution requirements and trademark enforcement has caused confusion and fear within the community. @geoffl commented, “Matt needs to give clear guidelines on when/how he will ask for contributions from hosting companies. That will reduce consumer uncertainty on whether they will have access to plugins.”
+
+The broader WordPress community seems unsure of where Automattic draws the line between companies that need to contribute and those that do not. @mauricioac added a general piece of advice about business dealings, saying, “Something I learned a long time ago after getting backstabbed: never make verbal agreements. Always, ALWAYS, have written records.” This sentiment reinforces the idea that Matt’s informal approach to business dealings with companies like WP Engine could come back to haunt him in court.
+
+### The Risk of Alienating the WordPress Ecosystem
+
+Another significant concern is the potential long-term damage to the WordPress ecosystem if this issue continues to escalate. Commenters like @UODZU-P expressed frustration that WP Engine customers were already being affected by the trademark dispute. They wrote, “We are now looking to migrate 20+ sites off WPE to something else because we can’t receive security updates due to him going ‘scorched earth.’ So now I’m looking to abandon WP from my tech stack altogether.”
+
+This highlights a critical issue for Automattic: by taking legal action against a major player like WP Engine, they risk alienating the very community that has made WordPress successful. Many users expressed concern that similar actions could be taken against other hosting companies, leading to an exodus of developers, businesses, and users from the platform.
+
+### Conclusion: A Divided Community
+
+Overall, the community sentiment following the interview with Matt Mullenweg reflects a growing divide between Automattic’s leadership and the broader WordPress community. While some users support Matt’s ethical stance, many are concerned about the legal strategies being employed and the potential fallout for the WordPress ecosystem. The lack of clear communication, the emotional nature of Matt’s responses, and the perceived coercion of companies like WP Engine have left many users feeling uneasy about the future of WordPress.
+
+As one user, @sluffmo, summed it up: “All he’s achieved is showing the WP community that one immature, greedy dude throwing a tantrum can screw up their site without warning. Who cares about WP Engine? Time to pick another CMS.” This comment encapsulates the risk Automattic faces if they continue down this path—alienating the very developers and users who have built their success.
+
 ## Sources
 
 - [WordPress.org: WP Engine is not WordPress](https://wordpress.org/news/2024/09/wp-engine/)