[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #16838: Excluding Akismet from Future WordPress Releases / Plugin Directory

[WordPress Trac]

#16838: Excluding Akismet from Future WordPress Releases / Plugin Directory
---------------------------+------------------------------
 Reporter:  sc0ttkclark    |       Owner:  (none)
     Type:  enhancement    |      Status:  reopened
 Priority:  normal         |   Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  Plugins        |     Version:  3.1
 Severity:  normal         |  Resolution:
 Keywords:  needs-refresh  |     Focuses:
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Comment (by Cybr):

 The WordPress Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization, operates
 this website. [https://wordpressfoundation.org/ Its mission states]:
 > The point of the foundation is to ensure free access, in perpetuity, to
 the software projects we support.

 [https://wordpressfoundation.org/projects/ Its project are], without
 ambiguity:
 - WordPress (which links to WordPress.org)

 But its projects are not:
 - Akismet
 - Jetpack

 From [https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations
 /inurement-private-benefit-charitable-organizations IRS.gov]:

 > A section 501(c)(3) organization must not be organized or operated for
 the benefit of private interests, such as the creator or the creator's
 family, shareholders of the organization, other designated individuals, or
 persons controlled directly or indirectly by such private interests.

 If I'm not mistaken, it wouldn't be permitted to give special treatment to
 commercial software and services. Promoting non-commercial community-
 driven software, such as bbPress and BuddyPress, is allowed.

 I think removing Akismet from being preinstalled, and removing it and
 Jetpack from the [https://wordpress.org/plugins/browse/featured/ Featured
 plugin list/category] would be in line with the organization's
 requirements.

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/16838#comment:56>
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