So you want to show off your love for WordPress with the iconic logo? As someone who works with WordPress every day, I get it! That simple W mark is a powerful way to communicate your involvement in the WP community.
But hold up! Before you start plastering the WordPress logo all over your website or product, there are some crucial rules you need to know. WordPress is serious about protecting its trademark – and for good reason.
As of 2023, WordPress powers over 43% of all websites, including heavyweights like The White House and Microsoft News. With such a massive footprint, ensuring the WordPress brand remains strong and recognizable is key to the platform‘s ongoing success.
By enforcing trademark rules, the non-profit WordPress Foundation protects the project‘s reputation and longevity. This ultimately benefits the entire ecosystem of users, developers, designers and hosting companies that make their living with WordPress.
So in this guide, I‘ll walk you through the 4 golden rules of using the WordPress logo and trademark in 2023. Follow these best practices and you‘ll be representing WordPress the right way. Let‘s jump in!
Rule 1: Capitalize the P in WordPress
I know, I know, you‘re probably rolling your eyes. How can one little letter be so important? Well, when it comes to trademarks, details matter. The official spelling is "WordPress", with a capital W and P.
Writing it as "WordPress" or "wordpress" is seen as a rookie mistake in the WordPress world. In fact, the issue is so common that since WordPress 3.0, the software has included a script called "capital_P_dandit" that automatically capitalizes any instance of incorrectly-cased "WordPress".
Bottom line – if you want to look like you know your stuff, always capitalize the "P" in WordPress. It‘s an easy way to show respect for the brand and help preserve its integrity.
Rule 2: Don‘t Use "WordPress" in Your Domain Name
You may be wondering, "Can I build my brand around WordPress by registering a domain name with ‘WordPress‘ in it?" I get the instinct, but the answer is a firm "no".
The WordPress Foundation owns the trademark and gets to decide how it‘s used. Unless you have special permission (spoiler: you probably don‘t), you aren‘t allowed to use "WordPress" in any top-level domains.
For example:
❌ wordpressdesigntips.com
❌ wordpresspluginguide.com
✅ wpdesigntips.com
✅ pluginguide.com
There is one small exception. You can use "WordPress" in a subdomain, like design.wordpresstips.com. But in general, it‘s best to steer clear of any domain names containing the trademarked term.
If you see a site violating this policy, you can report it to the WordPress Foundation so they can protect the trademark.
Rule 3: Only Use Official WordPress Logo Assets
If you‘re going to use the WordPress logo, it‘s essential to use the official versions. The proper WordPress logo consists of either:
- A stylized "W" mark, usually in a circle or square
- The full "WordPress" logotype, sometimes combined with the "W" mark
Here‘s what the official logos look like:
Sadly, it‘s common to see websites and products using an unofficial, wrong logo. Usually it‘s the classic "WordPress" logotype but with a shortened, stubby "W". This is affectionately known as the "faux go".
You can access official, high-resolution WordPress logos in the WordPress Logo Download Package. There you‘ll find the correct logos in various colors and file formats like PNG and SVG.
Feel free to use these proper logo assets following the other trademark guidelines. Just avoid modifying them or combining them with your own brand logos.
Rule 4: Avoid Implying Endorsement or Affiliation
The final rule is more of an overarching principle. Whenever you use the WordPress logo or mention the trademark, avoid phrasing that suggests your product or site is officially endorsed by, affiliated with, or sponsored by WordPress.org or the WordPress Foundation.
Some quick examples:
✅ "We built our e-commerce site with WordPress"
✅ "Our hosting is optimized for WordPress"
❌ "Get this theme, certified by WordPress"
❌ "WordPress recommends this page builder"
The key is to be clear that your thing is your thing, not an official WordPress thing. If needed, add a disclaimer that you‘re a third party and not formally associated with the WordPress project (unless you are).
What Happens When You Violate the WordPress Trademark?
Alright, you might be wondering, "What‘s the worst that could happen if I bend these rules a bit?" Well, the WordPress Foundation‘s stance is pretty clear. If they catch wind of a trademark violation, you can expect a friendly but firm email asking you to correct the issue pronto.
Fail to comply and things can escalate quickly. In the case of trademark-infringing domains, the Foundation‘s lawyers may go after your registrar to have the domain transferred to them. For serious matters, you could even face a formal lawsuit. Yikes.
Not to sound alarmist, but WordPress means business when it comes to its trademark. The hassle and expense of legal issues just aren‘t worth it, especially when WordPress is so generously letting you build your livelihood on its software for free!
It‘s much wiser to simply adhere to the trademark rules from the get-go. That way, you‘re acting as a respectful member of the WordPress community and helping protect the brand that benefits us all.
Do Your Part to Protect WordPress
Well there you have it, the four commandments of using the WordPress logo and name. As a quick recap:
- Always capitalize the "P" in WordPress
- Don‘t use "WordPress" in your top-level domain name
- Only use unmodified, official logo assets
- Don‘t imply affiliation, endorsement or sponsorship by WordPress
Pretty straightforward, right? By sticking to these guidelines, you‘re doing your part to uphold WordPress‘s reputation and support its mission to democratize publishing.
As the most popular CMS by a huge margin, WordPress is a special case in the open source world, as I explain in my guide to WordPress for beginners. The WordPress Foundation doesn‘t just defend the trademark to be sticklers – it does so to keep WordPress stable and thriving well into the future.
So the next time you go to use the WordPress logo or name, take a second to ensure you‘re following the rules. And if you see any logo misuse or trademark funny business in the wild, consider reporting it through official channels.
Together, we can keep WordPress strong for the millions of site owners, developers, content creators and business owners who depend on it.
Learn More About WordPress Trademark Policies
For the most up-to-date guidance on WordPress trademark policies, I recommend checking out these official resources from WordPress.org:
I also always keep an eye out for trademark news from WordPress experts and publications like:
The WordPress community is always abuzz with the latest developments, so staying plugged in is the best way to keep your trademark knowledge current.
Now go forth and show your WordPress pride the right way! If you found this guide helpful or have any trademark questions, let me know in the comments. I‘m always happy to geek out about the wonderful world of WordPress.
