Automattic Inc. Claims It Owns the Word 'Automatic'

An anonymous reader shares a report: Automattic, the company that owns WordPress.com, is asking Automatic.CSS -- a company that provides a CSS framework for WordPress page builders -- to change its name amid public spats between Automattic founder Matt Mullenweg and Automatic.CSS creator Kevin Geary. Automattic has two T's as a nod to Matt.

'As you know, our client owns and operates a wide range of software brands and services, including the very popular web building and hosting platform WordPress.com,' Jim Davis, an intellectual property attorney representing Automattic, wrote in a letter dated Oct. 30.

'Automattic is also well-known for its longtime and extensive contributions to the WordPress system. Our client owns many trademark registrations for its Automattic mark covering those types of services and software,' Davis continued. 'As we hope you can appreciate, our client is concerned about your use of a nearly identical name and trademark to provide closely related WordPress services. Automattic and Automatic differ by only one letter, are phonetically identical, and are marketed to many of the same people. This all enhances the potential for consumer confusion and dilution of our client's Automattic mark.'

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