alt Hacker NewsUnfortunately many of their public statements have focused on the "WP" in "WP Engine". See my above comment.
Their messaging around this has been messy and rambling. The drowning out any point they're trying to make with their own messaging.
Who can say the offer "WordPress" hosting? How much do they have to pay? That question was dodged several times in the interviews I've listened to.
If it's a trademark issue, make the claims and let the courts figure it out.
Stay focused or stop talking.
Regardless what they want, they have very limited rights to anything over that. Nike can say that you can't name you new sneakers Nike. Can probably say that you can't name your business "The Nike Store" even if all you stock is Nikes, but can not cannot say that you cannot refer to Nike by their actual name to state that you sell Nike sneakers.
WordPress is the name of the software that they provide services about. There is no way to control who can simply state that fact.