In October, David Heinemeier Hansson, the creator of Ruby on Rails, published a blog post titled “Automattic is doing open source dirty,” expressing concerns over Automattic’s recent actions within the open-source community.
The controversy centers around Automattic’s demand for an 8% share of WP Engine’s revenues, citing insufficient contributions to the WordPress project. Hansson argues that this demand contradicts the principles of open-source licensing, particularly the GNU General Public License (GPL), under which WordPress is distributed. He emphasizes that open-source licenses are designed to provide clarity and certainty, allowing businesses to build upon open-source software without fear of unexpected financial obligations.
Hansson further criticizes Automattic’s approach of leveraging trademark claims to enforce revenue sharing, especially considering their previous ownership stake in WP Engine before its acquisition by Silver Lake. He underscores that while it might be frustrating when companies benefit from open-source projects without direct contributions, the essence of open source is to allow such use without imposing additional, unforeseen obligations.
This situation highlights a broader debate about the responsibilities of companies profiting from open-source software and the potential implications of altering established licensing norms. Hansson warns that Automattic’s actions could set a concerning precedent, undermining the trust and reliability that have been foundational to the success of open-source initiatives over the past decades.
In essence, the dispute raises critical questions about the balance between open-source freedoms and the expectations of contribution, urging the community to reflect on the core values that drive open-source collaboration.
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