Joost de Valk banned from WordCamp Asia, trademark crackdown hits sponsors, plus why Asian representation at WordCamps remains a challenge…
Hey WordPress friends,
The WordPress ecosystem is experiencing significant shifts this month, from community tensions to evolving event dynamics and trademark policies. While some changes have sparked heated debates, others remind us why this community remains uniquely collaborative.
Let’s dive into the stories shaping our WordPress world this week.
De Valk Banned from WordCamp Asia Amid Leadership Tension
The WordPress community was rocked this week when Matt Mullenweg banned Joost de Valk from WordCamp Asia 2025, publicly declaring him “persona non grata.” This dramatic development followed de Valk’s dinner invitation to Mullenweg in Manila, which sparked accusations of betrayal and resulted in de Valk’s WordPress.org access being revoked.
The tension stems from de Valk’s December call to reform WordPress’s governance structure and end Mullenweg’s role as “Benevolent Dictator for Life.” Progress Planner, a product from de Valk’s investment firm, has also been barred from sponsoring major WordCamps.
→ Read the full story from The Repository
WordCamp Asia’s Speaker Diversity Falls Short
Speaking of WordCamp Asia, the event is struggling to meet its local representation targets. Despite aiming for 60% Asian speakers, only 38% of speakers are from the APAC region. Even more telling, when excluding Oceania, Asian representation drops to just 27%.
Automattic’s presence at the event has notably increased, with 30% of speakers being Automatticians – up from 19% last year. This level of representation exceeds even what Salesforce maintains at their own Dreamforce events.
→ Read the full findings from WPbiz.dev
Trademark Crackdown Hits WordCamp Sponsors
The WordPress Foundation is tightening its grip on trademark usage, with Mullenweg and Executive Director Mary Hubbard now personally reviewing all WordCamp sponsorships. Companies must strictly comply with trademark policies, removing terms like “WordPress hosting” from their materials before approval.
This comes as the foundation expands its protected marks to include “Hosted WordPress” and “Managed WordPress,” with trademark applications filed across multiple jurisdictions. While some applications face procedural hurdles, the UK has already registered “Hosted WordPress.”
→ Read the full story at the Repository
Human Library Returns to WordCamp Asia
On a brighter note, WordCamp Asia 2025’s Contributor Day will feature the return of the Human Library, where attendees can have one-on-one conversations with experienced WordPress contributors. These “Human Books” include experts like Milana Cap, Riad Benguella, and Birgit Pauli-Haack, covering topics from documentation to block development.
Last year’s program sparked meaningful connections, with one participant even beginning to contribute to WordPress Core after their conversation. Sessions run throughout February 14th, offering both morning and afternoon slots.
→ Find out from the official WordCamp Asia Blog
Community Reaction of the Week
On other WordPress News
→ Introducing the new Woo: A revitalized brand for a new commerce landscape (woocommerce.com)
→ Tumblr to join the fediverse after WordPress migration completes
(Techcrunch)
→ Your Home for a Century: Our 100-Year Domains and Plans
(WordPress.com)
→ Sé Reed Accuses Matt Mullenweg of Retaliation After WordPress.org Ban (therepository.email)
From WordPress Community
→ Using Real News Skills to Cover What Happens In WordPress, with Rae Morey (publishPress.com)
→ Post Status Cache Up With Mary Hubbard (postStatus.com)
→ Does WordPress need a Radical Rethink in 2025? (YouTube)
→ Have you adopted a WordPress user? (Rich.blog)
→ My January in WordPress (aaron.jorb.in)
→ WordPress Wapuu: History & 145+ Stunning WordCamp Avatars (sitesaga.com)
If you are visiting WordCamp Asia 2025 next week Philipines, must-read these:
→ The Ultimate Guide to Philippine Culture: Travel Etiquette, Customs, and Key Phrases
→ Find the full WordCamp Asia 2025 Schedule
→ Meet Our Contributor Day Table Leads at WordCamp Asia 2025
WordPress Resource
→ 15+ Fastest WordPress Hosting Providers Compared (18,380 Individual Tests Between 2021-2025)(wpshout.com)
That’s all for this week’s roundup. It’s clear we’re witnessing a pivotal moment in WordPress’s evolution, with questions about governance, representation, and trademark enforcement taking center stage. Yet initiatives like the Human Library remind us of the community’s enduring strength – its people.
These discussions aren’t just about policies or personalities; they’re about shaping WordPress’s future. As these stories develop, we’ll keep bringing you the context and insights you need.
Until next week,
Nishat,
WPMore Curator
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P.S. What are your thoughts on these developments? Hit reply to share your perspective – I read every response.
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