Wordpress.org released Secure Custom Fields "PRO" version with ACF pro features

[dotancohen]

The Secure Custom Fields extension page [1] states this:

  > Features
  > - Millions of Users

And also states this in the sidebar:

  > Active installations: Fewer than 10

That seems to support the accusations that this code is simply the nulled version of ACF's paid extension.

[1] https://wordpress.org/plugins/secure-custom-fields/

[AstroJetson]

Ugg. I'd like to hope that Matt had hired better legal advice.

But that didn't happen. Matt this isn't going to end well for anyone. The first rule of holes is "STOP DIGGING" Can you put down the shovel for awhile and try talking to people?

[freerobby]

Any recommended article/link to get the backstory on this situation?

[nicce]

Maybe it is sometimes okay that people get what they deserve based on their actions? Whatever the result here will be.

Otherwise they will never learn. Is it more okay to do questionable things first and then later hide behind lawyer than just keeping doing it openly?

[KolmogorovComp]

If your IP is blocked https://eddrit.com/r/Wordpress/comments/1gy8bud/wordpressorg...

[DamnInteresting]

I have a Wordpress site I've been operating since 2005. In recent days I've seen notifications that a Wordpress core update is available, and I find myself very reluctant to install it. I no longer trust this organization. But I also don't want to fall behind on security updates. What an unnecessary mess.

[legitster]

It will be interesting when Matt changes his story yet again and issues yet another non-apology.

At this point I'm honestly surprised there are not criminal charges. Just blatantly stealing another business's property/storefront, and then threatening to do the same to other businesses is a shockingly brazen thing to do.

[cosmotic]

What exactly was stolen?

[pixxel]

> Just blatantly stealing another business's (WP Engine) property/storefront

Context: WP Engine is controlled by Silver Lake, a private equity firm with $102 billion in assets under management

[throwaway888abc]

Isn't this theft ?

[kmeisthax]

Morally, kind of.

Legally, even taking the whole "copyright infringement equals theft" attitude at face value, it's not, because WordPress is GPL and GPL explicitly forbids adding new restrictive terms to the license, and also forbids combining it with more restrictively licensed code. In fact, in the past, Automattic did to Envato what they did to WP Engine specifically because Envato had taken the position that nulled plugins are infringing.

Of course, Automattic is now suing Festingervault for hosting nulled plugins, because Matt Mullenweg doesn't have principles, he has emotions.

[ChrisArchitect]

Can we just link to the thing: https://wordpress.org/plugins/secure-custom-fields/

[daft_pink]

It’s just whatever for most people using Wordpress is the most practical thing and who cares about wpengine.

[noirbot]

Do you not think the endgame of this is to funnel everyone to Automattic and then raise the rates now that he's exerted a monopoly over Wordpress hosting? Because at this point, I don't see what other exist he has here. This is pure "I own all of Wordpress and it's no longer open source and I can charge anything I want" or he's going to be bankrupted by the lawsuits.

[oysterville]

Quite the broad paint brush. Many of us will look at a train going off of the rails and make different travel plans.

[hi_hi]

Legalities aside, isn't this the end game for most profit driven companies? Isn't Matt just doing his job here, trying to drive an increase in revenue?

I'm not saying I like it, but, ethics aside (and lets not play dumb here, when do ethics drive business, unless it affects profit), I'm struggling to understand all the outrage over his actions?

[noirbot]

But the legalities are the important part of this. You may as well say "Legalities aside, robbing your competitors at gunpoint is a good idea, if unethical". He's essentially setting up a system where if you ever make too much money off of his project, he's very willing to extort you and do plenty of unethical and likely illegal things to you. That's extremely important to the considerations of companies who may be interested in going into business with Wordpress.

[karaterobot]

Destroying your company's brand is not the end game for most profit-driven companies. It's usually the end state, to be fair, but an end game is something you're trying to achieve, not something you're bungling you way into like this.

[axelthegerman]

Except that for profit companies usually stay within the legal limits - or if they don't their smart and calculated about it.

This guy is just going nuts and most likely non of his actions would be looked at favourably in any legal dispute.

And if the most likely outcome of a legal dispute is loosing then that's not really a good way to try increasing revenue/profits.

On top of that if your business is founded on open source and you're behaving like this you're destroying that whole foundation - and burning the whole thing down likely won't increase and profits either

[tliltocatl]

Not behaving in such a way that will cause people to avoid you in the future isn't about ethics. It's about reputation.

[viraptor]

There's lots of companies with leadership that prioritises ethical approach. It's sad that people don't realise it these days / think it's that uncommon. (I've read this opinion here at least 3 times recently)