For the record, Wordpress is GPL, and IANAL, but as far as I know, any modifications you make to the core must be released back (on request in the very least).

For the record, Wordpress is GPL, and IANAL, but as far as I know, any modifications you make to the core must be released back (on request in the very least). That's why almost every Wordpress theme, including commercial themeforest themes don't stop you from releasing the source code if someone requests for it. So, this is not Automattic having to release out of moral high ground, but rather due to the GPL licensing they chose to use for Wordpress. So my point is, if this whole fiasco was in the spirit of open source, then this should have started with Automattic releasing their entire codebase surrounding their platform and not just pick their competitor and harass them.