Plans & memos to make tech better
Product Strategist β€’ Officer β€’ Developer

Automattic And WordPress Could Simplify Brands

Here is an idea for how to create a singular and clear Wordpress brand for both Automattic and the WordPress Foundation. I wonder if this could potentially help both of them prosper and grow much better together into the foreseeable future.

Quick β€’ Name Changes And Locations

  • Automattic Inc. > Wordpress Inc. - wordpress.com/inc
  • WordPress.com > Wordpress - wordpress.com
  • WordPress > Wordpress Org or Wordpress.org - wordpress.org
  • WordPress Foundation > Wordpress Foundation - wordpress.org/foundation
  • Automattic > Wordpress Automattic - automattic.com
  • Ma.tt & Matt.blog > Matt Mullenweg - mattmullenweg.com

What

  • Sell WordPress trademark to Automattic and rename Automattic Inc. to Wordpress Inc.
  • Allow use of WordPress trademark to be used on anything for eternity for WordPress Foundation too
  • Rename WordPress.com > Wordpress and Wordpress Inc. - Wordpress, formerly WordPress.com
  • Rename WordPress > Wordpress Org and Wordpress Foundation - Wordpress Org, formerly WordPress. Alternatives > Wordpress.org? Wordpress Open? Wordpress Core? Wordpress Base? Wordpress Free?
  • Relocate Wordpress Foundation > Wordpress Org - Simplify with Foundation at Wordpress.org and Inc. at Wordpress.com
  • Rename Automattic > Wordpress Automattic - Stay at automattic.com as Careers website and internal company domain

Why

  • Life is short. Take a chance. The risk is worth the reward. Simplify and create a single, well-known, and strong brand.
  • Wordpress.com and Automattic can help WordPress Foundation a lot by making more money
  • Automattic could make much more money if it can use Wordpress trademark and name for anything
  • Wordpress could be best name for both WordPress.com and for Automattic company going forward
  • We can use Wordpress brand name on many products for both Inc. and Foundation creating a network effect
  • Wordpress.org and WordPress is so popular now that Wordpress Inc. would likely face trouble restricting future trademark access

Axiomattic

  • If you don't trust yourself with trademark, do you think someone in the future who is less altruistic will care? - Build for our generation
  • Accept that you can only control trademark, foundation, and company while you are leader and alive - Even Rome fell

Updated Date - Nov 22nd, 2023
Original Date - May 26th, 2021