E128: Automattic Issues New Trademark Notice, StellarWP Layoffs, SOTW 2025

This week, the spotlight is on Automattic’s trademark dispute with the creator of Automatic.css, sparking debate around branding and open-source naming rights. We also cover WordPress 6.9 Beta 2, featuring 33 editor updates and the long-awaited merge of the Abilities API, plus major improvements to plugin security checks through the new Plugin Check Plugin.

Across the ecosystem, Campus Connect Costa Rica and WordCamp Islamabad showcased WordPress’s growing global footprint, while critical vulnerabilities were patched in King Addons, Anti-Malware Security, and WP Freeio. WooCommerce 10.3.4 brings key performance fixes, and FAIR joins Patchstack for real-time site protection.

Outside WordPress, OpenAI’s ChatGPT Go expands globally, Google launches Pomelli, and Microsoft confirms its $135B stake in OpenAI. Community highlights include BobWP’s 700th podcast milestone and new plugin launches like Ability Explorer, Plugin Curator, and PodLoom.

Sponsored by:

🔹 Kinsta – Premium managed WordPress hosting with speed, security, and scalability built in

🔹 WP Shell – Learn to self-host your WordPress site with 25+ free lessons on VPS and server setup

🔹 WP Job Openings – The easiest way to create a professional career page and manage applications effortlessly

Stay tuned for this week’s blend of WordPress news, community highlights, security alerts, and AI innovation shaping the open web.