Don Ho confirms the Notepad++ trademark dispute is resolved after the Mac port removed all unauthorized uses of the Notepad++ name and branding.
Key Takeaways
The Mac port infringed the Notepad++ trademark; the issue is now resolved after the project removed all references.
GPL licensing covers code reuse freely, but does not grant rights to use the Notepad++ trademark or branding.
Don Ho’s core concern: an unofficial port bearing the Notepad++ name could ship malware or have unpatched vulnerabilities, damaging the project’s reputation.
Ports and forks are explicitly welcome under GPL; endorsement via trademark use is a separate, distinct matter.
The renamed project is now called Nextpad++.
Hacker News Comment Review
Commenters broadly agreed the issue was about deceptive official-looking branding, not opposition to the port itself – the original site apparently looked like an official release.
Several commenters noted trademark holders must actively defend marks to avoid abandonment or genericness, though one clarified you can grant permission rather than being required to block all use.
A security angle emerged: Notepad++ has previously been targeted by state-sponsored actors to deliver malware, making a fast-coded AI-assisted fork carrying the official name a serious supply-chain risk beyond just brand dilution.
Notable Comments
@zamadatix: Flags that the site’s email redaction was done incorrectly – content must be deleted before adding redaction decoration, not layered on top.
@ASalazarMX: Notes Notepad++ has been previously targeted by state-sponsored hackers; a March 2025 vibe/agent-coded fork using the brand is a concrete supply-chain risk.
