> Where does it state that if you profit x amount of profit you should contribute back?

It doesn't. But it doesn't say anywhere that you should get resources (like storage and compute) for free either.

> What is the maximum amount of profit you can make?

I don't know. But I can argue that someone bringing in 500 million a year in revenue should be acting differently from someone bringing in 500k a year. If they contribute back little or nothing, no other player (such as Automattic) who contributes back will be able to compete with them.

Where does it state that they're going to let million dollar parasites off for free forever?

Apparently that’s Matts problem, he says Automattic is giving a lot more back (4000 hours or so) and WPE is doing like 40 hours.

So yeah, is WPE in the right to not give back?

At the heart of this is the same song of making money and the idea of fairness. I honestly don’t know the groundrules here.

ethically or legally? because they both matter, but they are decided in the court of public opinion and of law, respectively, but only one carries actual fiscal weight.

Personally, and I need to read more, is that ethically the problem lies with sharing. Is Matt/automattic ethically obliged due compensation? I think not. WP Engine is its own company like automattic. Would it grace WPE if they do compensate with money or resources? Obviously, but then you might also want to put them in the foundation oversee committee if they do half of the work.

The law, I have no idea in what direction this is going to go!

> Is Matt/automattic ethically obliged due compensation?

This question here goes straight to the heart of things.

WP.org is a 501(c)3 organization. Ostensibly, it has absolutely nothing to do with Automattic. Reality... appears to be somewhat different.

If there were compensation due, it would not be to Automattic.

WP.org has a board of directors, not a dictator. Ostensibly, Matt is the Chairman. Why would he be due compensation?

The fact that such questions even arise shows just how ... murky ... Matt/WP.org/WP.com/Automattic's interactions are.

Do they have to state it? I think you simply get a phone call to pony up some cash when Automattic has you on their radar.

It’s in your own self interest to know what you’ve built your business on and have a backup plan if the bottom falls out. I don’t really have any compassion for them, but I do for their users.