Crossword Attribution
Oct 24, 2025
The hosts dive into the controversial topic of plugin copying within the WordPress ecosystem. Jonathan shares his ethical concerns about attribution, while Luke highlights the gap between community values and actual practices. They recount personal experiences with copying and discuss the implications of blatant plagiarism. The conversation evolves into the realm of AI browsers, with Jonathan sharing his initial thoughts on AI tools. The episode blends personal reflection with a critical look at community dynamics and technology's impact.
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Episode notes
Legal Vs Ethical Copying
- Jonathan and Luke distinguish legal GPL copying from ethical concerns about attribution and respect.
- Jonathan feels copying without credit breaks a social contract in open source communities.
Copied Paywall Code Experience
- Jonathan recounts a plugin that copied HTML/CSS from his SaaS paywall product in an early release.
- He says it worked legally but left him uneasy about the lack of acknowledgment.
Forked And Shamed Experiences
- Luke shares being forked by WooCommerce after removing his plugin from their store.
- He also remembers copying web designs as a teen and getting publicly shamed for it.