Automattic Forks Premium Version Of ACF
Social media was buzzing over the weekend because it was noticed that a new version of ACF was published on WordPress.org using a new URL (/secure-custom-fields/), marked as a beta version. David McCan of WebTNG downloaded the plugin, took a look at the code and confirmed that the new version is a fork of the paid version of ACF. He notes that the WP Engine copyright information was removed, remarking that may be a problem. He also noted that the code that checks for whether the software is paid for and licensed has also been removed.
Viewing the code, he says:
“We go to the version for secure custom fields. You see the file name is still the same ACF dot PHP, But this one. The header information says secure custom fields. It says the author is wordpress.org. There is no copyright notice in here of WP engines code, which is probably a problem.
So by removing the license check and update from WP engine, this seems like a classic case of an old plugin which is now being hosted in the WordPress plugin directory. So I’m wondering if this is even a legal fork. I’m not an expert in software licensing law, but my understanding is you need to preserve the original copyright notices when you fork a plug in. It’s one of the requirements.”
Developer Response In Facebook Group
Whether or not whether making the pro version of the plugin freely available for download is legal is something for the courts to decide. What Automattic may not have considered is that there is an impact to competitors like Meta Box Pro, who offer a similar functionality to ACF. Current users of Meta Box Pro may be incentivized to not renew their current license because they can now get similar premium features for free from WordPress.org.
Someone posted this concern in the private Dynamic WordPress group (posted here, group membership required to view), writing that they had purchased a lifetime license ($699) for Meta Box prior to Mullenweg’s dispute with WP Engine. They wrote that they feel like they made a mistake for purchasing a license for Meta Box, noting that they don’t agree with “stealing” ACF and expressed that this will cause Meta Box to lose users. A yearly subscription to Meta Box starts at $149/year.
One of the Facebook group members remarked that no, they didn’t make a bad decision by purchasing a license for Meta Box, saying that Matt Mullenweg was the one that made the poor decision. Another group member expressed that he regarded Mullenweg as an unreliable steward of the ACF fork and wouldn’t trust his fork, ACF, on any of the websites he develops.
Other developers agreed that SCF is not trustworthy enough for use on a live website, noting that many sites are having issues with the Secure Custom Fields. Someone else noted that this may end poorly for Meta Box within a year from now as SCF becomes more stable. Some members said they’re glad to have Meta Box and are glad to be uninvolved with the WordPress versus WP Engine drama.
Response On WordPress Subreddit
The response from the WordPress community on Reddit was similarly disapproving.
Members of the WordPress subreddit expressed disapproval, nobody was celebrating Mullenweg’s move.
One member posted:
“It’s crazy because they literally are suing someone else for hosting nulled plugins, and that guy had his bank accounts frozen. They are doing the same thing now over at WordPress.”
Someone else shared:
“Oh wow, so this is actually Matt putting the premium/pro version of ACF with all of it’s features that are normally behind their paywall, up for people to download and use for free on wordpress.org while calling it Secure Custom Forms Pro or whatever, completely out of spite?
This is worse than I thought it was from just seeing the title of this thread, much worse.”
Another post that’s representative of how people feel about WordPress.org distributing a premium plugin for free:
“If he wanted to shoot WordPress in the other foot, this was the perfect move.”
Whether this move will impact ACF’s competitors and the greater premium WordPress ecosystem remains to be seen. One thing is certain: most people on social media appear to disapprove of Matt Mullenweg forking a premium WordPress plugin, and, legal or not, it’s perceived as crossing a line typically associated with software piracy.
Watch David McCan inspect the code:
Featured Image by Shutterstock/LoveHex