WordPress Made Easy… or Not

Will WordPress be after me for using their name in my domain?

Some months ago, I purchased the licence to sell James Maduke’s WordPress video tutorials and then I purchased the domain name "WordPressMadeEasy.Com"

But it now looks as if the guys over at WordPress.org, and in particular Matt Mullenweg might be after me for using the WordPress name in my domain and so it seems, I might have the let that domain name RIP!

This problem has surfaced since Sherman Hu, creator of WordPress Tutorials and Brandon Hong creator of WordPress Videos were served cease and desist letters, asking them to stop violating the WordPress Trademark and intellectual rights through the use of WordPress in their domain name.

The main contentions seems to be the fact that Matt Mulleweg regards Sherman Hu’s and Brandon Hong’s site as "scammy" and apparently he doesn’t like affiliate schemes which Sherman Hu makes use of on his site - I know, I’m one of his affiliates and make no bones about it.

To get the whole story, check out Andy Beard’s post on WordPress Trademark Scammers. 

If you read this post, and the comments on Michel Fortin’s blog, it seems that what WordPress are really upset about, is the fact that Sherman and Brandon are making money from selling their video tutorials since WordPress is an Open Source project and many Open Source projets, such as Wordpress, are funded by providing free software, and then monetise it with corporate services such as consulting services from companies who specialize in providing assistance for their software platform.

And whilst Matt Mullenweg has argued against the suggestions that they don’t intend creating tutorials for sale in the future, I have my doubts and like others who have questioned their actions, have to ask why just these two sites?

It is my view that they were so eager to provide an Open Source project and then fund it on the back end with specialist consulting services, that they omitted to forsee the "DIY" world that was unfolding on the horizon.

Now, I’m not suggesting that consulting is a redundant profession (I’m a consultant myself) but with the growth of blogs over the past year alone, I’ve no doubt that most of those people who do put up a blog, want to do it as cheaply as possible and still be kept updated when conditions in marketing changes.

I don’t know about Brandon Hong’s site because I’m not a member, but I am a member of Sherman Hu’s WordPress Tutorials site and it rocks!! 

Back in February of this year, I had a website built for me and the webmasters added a blog to the directory.  When they advised me that the site was live, I clicked on the "Blog" link and was greeted with this blue header and terms like "categories," "Blogrolls" and "Syndicate!"

My first reaction was "what on earth do I do now!?"  So I headed over to WordPress.org and I have to say I didn’t find their tutorials at all helpful so I decided that someone must have created some videos on how to use this popular software and after about 20 minutes, found Sherman Hu’s website.

I have never looked back.  I had my blog customized to look like the home page and up and running in about three days.  I even contacted Sherman just after I purchased and we ended up chatting on the phone and he gave me some pointers on how to get the best from my blog. 

Think you’ll get service like this is WordPress gets their own way and dominates the blogosphere!?  If you do, think again!

All the whinging Open Sourcers out there complaining that the WordPress Codex has everything I need and that "Greedy Leeches" - to quote Bailey, an Open Sourcer - like Sherman Hu are capitalizing on their hard work have forgotten one thing… SOME OF US ARE VISUAL AND AUDITORY LEARNERS! 

The minute I saw the WordPress Codex, not only was I phased and confused, I was scared - and I’m no dummy, I have an MBA!  I found the site totally intimidating and yet, now I know my stuff, I can go to the site and get some useful information.  But I still find it easier to log into Sherman Hu’s site and search for the answer which is usually in video format.  If I can’t find what I’m looking for, I send an email and in no time, I get a detailed answer! 

However, back then, just the thought of having to trudge through the site to find out how to post a blog and "make money" with my blog put me off and in my view would be a turn off for many others as well - particularly the newbie.

Now, I’m not slating WordPress!  I did my homework before sighning up with them and I love the platform but I think Mr Scammy Sam who commented on Michel Fortin’s blog got it so right…

Wordpress is built by the technical elite, the “real” Web 2.0 crowd.

Isn’t that just so!! 

Ever heard the term "being so heavenly minded, you have no earthly use?"  Well I’m not saying these guys have no eartly use (just to cover myself from those who will deliberately misinterpret) but in my view they are so technically elite that they forgot the basics of marketing - get into the minds of your customer! 

They built the WordPress Codex to suit them and not for their target market and now it seems they may be throwing the baby out of the pram because someone filled the "Gaping Hole of Opportunity" that they probably didn’t even see until now. 

I wonder if WordPress would have served cease and desist letters on Sherman Hu and Brandon Hong had they been providing their service free of charge?  In other words, is the real issue just the fact that they’re regarded as scammy sites because they’re earning from their products.

This is going to be an interesting story to follow and whilst I may not be convinced that the small guy will win against these big guys (in terms of keeping WordPress in their domain names) I’m certain that Matt  Mullenweg may just have widened the window of opportunity rather than closed it and he might even end up with egg in his face. 

Got a point of view on the heated topic?  I welcome your comments. 

 

   

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