Notepad++ Developer Takes Legal Action Against macOS Port for Trademark Violation

The developer behind the popular Windows text editor Notepad++ is taking legal action against an unauthorized macOS port that he says is misleading users by using his trademarked name and branding.

The dispute centers on "Notepad++ for Mac," a port created by developer Andrey Letov that uses the same wonky-eyed chameleon logo as the original editor, has a nearly identical domain name (notepad-mac.com), and lists Don Ho as an affiliated author without clearly indicating it's an independent project.

"I've just written to Andrey Letov to request that he changes his product/project name & logo to remove the misleading presentation & the resulting confusion," Ho stated in a GitHub issues thread about the port. "The problem is specifically the trademark and the misleading presentation, not the open-source code itself."

The macOS port, which claims to be "a full native port for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs," initially appeared to many as an official release from Ho himself. While the website does eventually mention that it's "an independent open-source community port of Notepad++ to macOS" that "is not affiliated with Don Ho or the official Notepad++ team," this information is buried rather than prominently displayed.

Ho's concerns go beyond mere branding issues. He worries that unofficial ports using his trademark could distribute malware or security vulnerabilities that would damage the reputation of the original Notepad++ software.

"Even if that never happens, I cannot take responsibility for the long term maintenance of a port or fork that I do not manage," Ho explained. "Any critical issues, crashes or security vulnerabilities in that external project could damage the reputation of Notepad++ itself."

Interestingly, Ho emphasized that he has no issue with the concept of forking or porting his open-source code, which he released under the GPL license specifically to allow such modifications. His objection is solely to the use of his trademarked name and branding.

"You can fork and port Notepad++ all you want - Ho said he released it under GPL for that very reason - but he's not going to put his name, or his branding, on any of those forks," The Register reports.

Letov initially attempted to defend his project, claiming he had no intention of giving the impression it was an official derivative. However, Ho countered that most users won't read the fine print and will simply assume the macOS port is the official Notepad++ release.

"A small number of users are vigilant and read your website to learn the history," Ho explained. "But most people they will simply download your product & use it without reading your clarification, and will believe it is the official Notepad++ release."

In response to Ho's concerns, Letov added a banner message indicating he intends to change the name and logo "in coordination with Don Ho," and will change the domain name as well. The introduction text was also updated to clearly state that Notepad++ for Mac is "a full native independent port" of Notepad++.

Despite these changes, Ho maintains that he is not working with Letov on any rebranding efforts and insists the site continues to unlawfully use the Notepad++ trademark.

"I'm not working with Andrey Letov on any rebranding," Ho told The Register. "On the contrary, despite being informed that his use of the Notepad++ trademark is unlawful, he continues to use the 'Notepad++' name on his website. I will take the necessary legal steps to protect the trademark."

When Letov requested a couple of weeks to complete the rebranding process, Ho demanded immediate removal of the website, reporting the matter to Cloudflare for trademark infringement.

"I cannot authorize a 'week or two' of continued trademark infringement," Ho stated. "Please take down the domain immediately so you can focus on your rebranding efforts without legal interference. If the site is not removed, I will have no choice but to escalate the takedown request."

As of this writing, the Notepad++ for Mac website remains active, and Letov has not publicly responded to requests for comment on his plans moving forward.

This case highlights the growing importance of trademark protection in the open-source world. While open-source licenses like GPL explicitly allow forking and modification, they do not grant permission to use the original project's name, branding, or trademarks. This distinction is crucial for protecting both the original developers' rights and users' ability to distinguish between official and unofficial software.

For users, the case serves as a reminder to verify the official status of software before downloading and using it, especially when dealing with popular open-source projects that might have unofficial ports or derivatives.

The original Notepad++ remains a Windows-only application, and there is currently no official macOS version from Don Ho or the official Notepad++ team. Users interested in the software on macOS should be cautious of unofficial ports and verify their authenticity before use.

For more information about the original Notepad++ project, you can visit the official Notepad++ website.