After copying Tumblr’s reblog feature earlier, it looks as if Automattic (the company behind WordPress) is copying yet another feature from the microblogging service.
Starting today you’ll notice a new feature at the bottom of all WordPress.com blog posts. We’ve enabled a “Like” button, which, when clicked, shows a Gravatar image for all the bloggers who like a post.
When you “like” a post two core things happen. First, the blog post’s author sees your “like” and can click-through to your Gravatar profile. Second, clicking “like” saves the post in your homepage dashboard (in the “Posts I Like” section), so you can share it with others, or just keep it around for future reference. (Official WordPress Blog)
Currently the only difference between WordPress’s like feature and Tumblr’s is the fact that the former uses a star as an icon while the latter uses a heart symbol.
While the like feature does make WordPress much more social, it does make one wonder whether Automattic and Tumblr are stealing each other’s ideas (as the latter copied Automattic’s mass post editing feature in June).
Thus far this feature is only available to WP.com users, although self hosting WordPress fans can mimic the “like” feature by using the Facebook like button.



By DanielthePoet posted on August 4, 2010 at 5:11 pm
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So why are you reporting that WordPress is copying Tumblr, and NOT mentioning that Tumblr is imitating Facebook?
By Darnell Clayton posted on August 4, 2010 at 5:16 pm
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Because Tumblr had this feature long before Facebook did, not to mention the fact that it is much closer to Tumblr’s model than Facebook (the latter who IMHO is copying the best features from everyone).
By Jeff posted on August 5, 2010 at 7:39 am
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Everyone is trying to keep ahead of the game. Got to be good for us all in the long run.
By Blog Angel a.k.a. Joella posted on August 5, 2010 at 4:18 pm
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They do say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. So maybe WP really does like Tumbler. NO? Oh well.
Seems to me that adding the like feature is just good sense on the part of WordPress.
By John @ Social Media Fanatics posted on August 8, 2010 at 9:32 am
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I think its a MOVE by wordpress.com and not by wordpress.org.
By blue2x posted on August 9, 2010 at 7:13 am
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They just have similar fill styles, maybe they used the same Photoshop style lol. Anyways, WordPress made a better logo.