Don Ho, the creator of the widely used Notepad++ code editor, is threatening legal action against an unofficial macOS port for trademark infringement. The dispute centers on the "Notepad++ for Mac" application, which Ho claims misleadingly mimics the original project's brand by using an identical logo and a deceptive domain name to appear as an official release.
Following a heated exchange on GitHub, the port's developer, Andrey Letov, has agreed to several changes to avoid further conflict: renaming the application to "Nextpad++" starting with the next version and updating the project site to explicitly state it is an independent, non-official port. While Notepad++ is open-source, the project's trademark remains strictly protected by its founder to prevent user confusion and brand dilution.
