Filed: WP Engine Inc. v Automattic Inc. and Matthew Charles Mullenweg [pdf]

Re:Filed: WP Engine Inc. v Automattic Inc. and Matthew Charl... by anon7000 on Thursday October 03, 2024 @12:47AM (#41727467)

I think it was explained elsewhere, but Automattic has the commercial trademark rights, so licensing money wouldn’t be transferred to a non-profit foundation.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Filed: WP Engine Inc. v Automattic Inc. and Matthew Charl... by metamichael on Thursday October 03, 2024 @01:26AM (#41727597)

And the WordPress Foundation isn't being sued either. So the trademark wouldn't be up for grabs either way. It's just a bunch of laymen LARPing lawyers.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Filed: WP Engine Inc. v Automattic Inc. and Matthew Charl... by bigiain on Thursday October 03, 2024 @01:16AM (#41727559)

Yeah, but according to the filing, Matt had Automattic transfer the ownership of the trademarks to the foundation, they had the foundation grant the exclusive licence back to Automattic.

If those trademarks are asserted to be worth billions, there are presumably reporting and tax obligations for both the ownership transfer and the licence grant agreement.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Filed: WP Engine Inc. v Automattic Inc. and Matthew Charl... by metamichael on Thursday October 03, 2024 @01:34AM (#41727634)

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.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Filed: WP Engine Inc. v Automattic Inc. and Matthew Charl... by re-thc on Thursday October 03, 2024 @08:33AM (#41730146)

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

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

[ Parent | on HN ]