WP Engine is Banned from WordPress.org

source: https://wordpress.org/news/2024/09/wp-engine-banned/

Oh boy, here we go again! Another one of these sanctimonious rants from WordPress.org, shaking their fists at WP Engine like a toddler who’s just had their toy taken away. First off, let’s get one thing straight, WordPress.org: WordPress is open-source. Open. Source. Meaning anyone—yes, including WP Engine—can take that beautiful GPL code and do whatever the hell they want with it, whether you like it or not. So all this whining about WP Engine needing a “trademark license” is nothing but a tantrum from the biggest control freaks on the internet.

The fact that WordPress.org is acting like some kind of gatekeeper for their free, open-source platform is not just laughable—it’s downright pathetic. This entire post reads like a bitter, baseless attack against WP Engine for daring to customize WordPress in ways that gasp actually help their customers. How dare they! You’d think WP Engine set fire to the core code with the way this is written.

Let’s dissect this flaming garbage fire of a blog post:

1. "WP Engine broke thousands of customer sites..."
   Yeah, sure. A little hyperbole never hurt anyone, right? Or maybe WordPress.org is just really bitter that WP Engine found a better way to implement WordPress for their customers—without having to beg at the feet of the all-powerful WordPress overlords. Instead of focusing on helping users, WordPress.org is too busy throwing shade at WP Engine for daring to do things differently.
2. "They need to run their own user login system, update servers, plugin directory..."
   Wait, is this supposed to be a threat? WP Engine already runs their own servers, their own systems, their own directories—and does it a hell of a lot better than you apparently give them credit for. Oh no, WP Engine doesn’t get free resources from WordPress.org anymore? Boo-freaking-hoo. As if WP Engine doesn’t have the infrastructure and expertise to manage all of that without WordPress.org holding their hand.
3. "WP Engine wants to control your WordPress experience..."
   Wait a minute—WordPress.org, you’re accusing WP Engine of wanting to control the experience? Do you not hear yourself? You’re literally the one acting like a dictator, deciding who gets to access what, trying to strong-arm hosts into doing things your way, and punishing anyone who doesn’t follow the WordPress.org gospel. Here’s a newsflash: It’s called open-source for a reason.
4. "WP Engine’s hacked up, bastardized simulacra of WordPress’s GPL code..."
   Oh, so now WordPress.org is acting like the code police, calling WP Engine’s version of WordPress a "bastardized simulacra"? Newsflash: GPL code means everyone is free to fork it, modify it, and build on it however they damn well please. WP Engine is doing just that, making it better for their customers, not for some self-righteous cabal at WordPress.org who thinks they own the internet.

Look, if you want to use WordPress as-is, sure, go host your site anywhere you want. They’re not pretending to be WordPress—they’re taking WordPress and turning it into something different for their customers, something WordPress.org apparently can’t stand.

Let’s cut through the BS: This whole post is a hissy fit because WP Engine dared to stand up to WordPress.org’s authoritarian attitude and carve out their own path. They don’t need your servers, your directories, or your unnecessary drama. They’re just fine on their own, and the fact that they’re succeeding without bending the knee clearly pisses you off.

Here’s the truth: WordPress.org doesn’t own WordPress—it’s open-source. Anyone, including WP Engine, can take it, tweak it, and do a hell of a lot better job than the stagnating old guard who think they can control the world’s websites. So, to the uninformed haters out there: Take a seat. WP Engine doesn’t need your permission to succeed.

Oh, but wait! It gets juicier. You see, WordPress.org’s CEO would love for you to believe that all this drama is about protecting the sanctity of the WordPress ecosystem. But the truth? They just want you to use their commercial offeringover at WordPress.com, where they can squeeze every last cent out of you.

Yeah, that’s right—this whole WP Engine tantrum is really about pushing people away from open-source WordPressand funneling them into their walled garden at WordPress.com. Because, let’s be real, they’d much rather you hand over your money to them than go to WP Engine, where you can get a far better service without being nickel-and-dimed for every little feature.

The hypocrisy here is so thick, you could cut it with a butter knife. WordPress.org is supposedly all about “freedom” and “open-source values,” but the second someone dares to offer a commercial product, they go on the offensive. Why? Because they don’t want you to think for yourself.

See, WordPress.com is where the real money is. That’s where the CEO’s bread is buttered. And all this posturing about WP Engine “bastardizing” their precious GPL code is just a smokescreen to get more people using their overpriced, overhyped, and over-controlled commercial service.

Here’s the dirty little secret: the folks over at WordPress.org don’t want you using the open-source version of WordPress unless you’re doing it their way. They’d much rather you cough up your hard-earned cash for WordPress.com, where they can lock you into a closed ecosystem, charge you for every little upgrade, and pretend they’re still the “good guys.”

So, let’s be real: This isn’t about WP Engine “hacking” up WordPress or being some rogue villain in the ecosystem. This is about WordPress.org being salty that WP Engine isn’t playing their game—and worse, that they’re offering users something better. They don’t want competition. They don’t want innovation. They want control. And the best way to maintain that control? Scare everyone into thinking that only WordPress.com can offer you a “true” WordPress experience.

Well, guess what? It’s open-source, baby. WordPress isn’t just yours, WordPress.org. It belongs to everyone. And no amount of whining or gatekeeping is going to change the fact that companies like WP Engine are free to use it and profit from it.

So, nice try, WordPress.org, but we see through your crap. You just want to steer the cash cow in your direction, and you’re mad that WP Engine won’t let you. Keep screaming into the void about your “trademark licenses” and your broken-down excuse for a marketplace.