WordPress dot org is basically fully funded and operated by Automattic. It seems that by default a WordPress installation will use WordPress dot org for many features and capabilities. WP Engine leaves this enabled on their hosted sites, so each WP Engine customer is effectively getting free access to an Automattic funded resource. Automattic wants to get paid back for this use, either in money or developer resources.
Automattic's desire seems totally reasonable. Their execution of expressing that desire seems to be totally unreasonable.
Except there is a "Donate" link in the wordpress.org footer, which leads to The WordPress Foundation's donation page. On that page, it states: [0]
> The WordPress Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization...
I don’t find it reasonable for a non-profit organization to demand payment from users to one of its donors, Automattic, instead of encouraging donations to itself.
Exactly. If Wordpress dot org demanded that companies that use foundation server resources pay the foundation, I’d be ok with that. Why is automattic involved in this conversation?
I generally assume other people are smarter than more competent than I am, especially successful people like Matt. That’s why I asked the question. There has to be more to the story, right?
Is it as simple as Matt didn’t even talk to a lawyer before doing all of this for whatever reason?
Automattic's desire seems totally reasonable. Their execution of expressing that desire seems to be totally unreasonable.