Can I log in to WordPress.org to support users of my free plugins?

A new mandatory checkbox WordPress.org login page creates a bit of an issue, as to support users of my free plugins I need to login, or to release updates and fixes I need to login in too. Also I have pledged to provide 5% of my time which I have been doing by providing general WordPress support in the forums, again to do this I need to login.

The check box asks “I am not affiliated with WP Engine in any way, financially or otherwise” with other specific clarification.

Others, on seeking advice from the owner of WordPress.org, got this:

As I only volunteer my support and gift my plugins to the community via WordPress.org I don’t intend to spend money on legal advice, so I thought I’d ask ChatGPT for a psuedo legal opinion, on the basis that it would give a good steer.

This was my prompt

What would your psuedo legal advice be to anyone considering Checking this box

“I am not affiliated with WP Engine in any way, financially or otherwise”

And this the reposone

If someone is considering checking a box with the statement “I am not affiliated with WP Engine in any way, financially or otherwise,” here’s some pseudo-legal advice they should keep in mind:

1. Understand “Affiliation”: “Affiliated” can refer to any relationship, formal or informal, with WP Engine. This could include employment, contracting, partnerships, or even indirect financial connections like investments.
2. Check for Financial Interests: Ensure you don’t have any financial interest in WP Engine. This includes stock ownership, having received any payment from them, or benefiting from any business relationships (even if indirect).
3. Non-Financial Connections: Make sure you are not affiliated in other ways, such as being on an advisory board, having a family member working for WP Engine, or having some formal business tie or influence related to them.
4. Be Honest: False declarations can lead to potential legal or contractual consequences. Misrepresenting your relationship may lead to penalties or being disqualified from the opportunity at hand.
5. If in Doubt, Clarify: If there’s any uncertainty about what “affiliated” includes, it’s always best to seek clarification from WP Engine or whoever is requiring the declaration to avoid unintended misrepresentation.

In short, if you have any doubt about whether your situation might be considered an affiliation, clarify before proceeding.

So taking point1+2, indirect financial connections, like investments, I have pensions and mutual funds and these MAY have investments directly or indirectly leading to WP Engine, also I have paying clients that may or may not use WP Engine to host my premium plugins which MAY create an indirect financial connection.

Point 3, one of my free plugins is on WP Engine’s recommended plugins list, is that a non financial connection? Also in the recent past I have had an affiliate account on ShareaSale for WP Engine, that I have since cancelled, but again it is unclear that this prior connection is an issue.

4. I try to be honest

5. If in doubt clarify – others have been asking but nothing has been forth comming.

The advice here is a little strange so I asked ChatGPT again

What if the response is

“I haven’t filed any lawsuits, only WPE has. :slightly_smiling_face:
It’s your choice based on your ethics and principles to check the box or not. You chose to despite considering yourself an affiliate? That’s fine. People lie all the time. You can still use WordPress.org just fine.”

And then it came back with

This response seems to raise several concerns, including ethical, legal, and practical implications. Here’s a breakdown of how you might interpret and respond to this type of situation:

1. Shifting Responsibility and Ethics

• Ethical Dilemma: The response is essentially saying, “It’s your decision whether or not to lie.” This poses an ethical dilemma, as the person replying is implying that lying is common but leaves it up to your personal moral judgment.
• Your Integrity: Regardless of what others do, your decision should ideally align with your principles. If you know that checking the box would be false, the ethical choice would be not to check it.

2. Legal Ramifications of Misrepresentation

• Legal Consequences: Misrepresenting yourself by checking the box could have consequences. Even if WP Engine is the party filing lawsuits, that doesn’t mean that your false declaration is free from liability. False statements, especially in legal or contractual agreements, can lead to potential fraud or breach of contract claims.
• Potential Accountability: While they’re not saying they will pursue legal action, the fact that lawsuits have been filed before should signal that they may take legal matters seriously. If any affiliation is discovered later, it could lead to penalties or invalidation of agreements.

3. “People Lie All the Time”

• Normalization of Dishonesty: Just because others may lie or cut corners does not mean it’s advisable for you to do so. Legal systems and agreements operate on the presumption that parties will act in good faith. Misrepresenting yourself can damage your credibility in future dealings.
• Reputation and Future Risk: If discovered, this kind of behavior could harm your professional reputation. It could make it difficult to work with the same entities in the future, especially in fields where trust and transparency are essential.

4. WordPress.org Use

• Clarification on WordPress Use: They mention that you can still use WordPress.org just fine. WordPress.org is open-source software, and in general, no affiliation with WP Engine (a hosting provider) is required to use WordPress.org. But this doesn’t remove the necessity of being truthful about your affiliation status if required for specific agreements or partnerships.

5. Final Take

• If you genuinely consider yourself to have any form of affiliation with WP Engine, it’s best to err on the side of caution and not check the box. Even if you face no immediate consequences, the ethical and legal risks may outweigh any potential short-term benefit.

So , to ‘err on the side of caution’ for the moment, due to what may be very tenuous links to WP Engine, I can’t log in to WordPress.org until proper clarification is provided.