⚖️ Lawsuit Overview
WP Engine filed a lawsuit against Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic and co-founder of WordPress, on October 2, 2024. WP Engine claims Mullenweg abused his power by extorting the company and threatening its ability to contribute to the open-source WordPress community. The lawsuit followed a two-week clash over trademark infringement and the control of WordPress.org, accusing Mullenweg of violating promises to keep WordPress an open, developer-friendly platform.
🚨 Accusations Against Mullenweg
WP Engine alleged that Mullenweg had a "long history of obfuscating the true facts" about his control over WordPress. They criticized his September 25 ban of WP Engine from WordPress.org resources, which included themes and plugins. WP Engine stated that this ban jeopardized the services of their customers by preventing updates. Although Mullenweg briefly lifted the ban, tensions escalated further when WP Engine rejected Automattic's terms for using WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks.
💸 Financial Demands and Disputes
One of the major points of contention between WP Engine and Automattic was a proposed seven-year deal. Automattic asked WP Engine to pay 8% of its gross revenues in royalties for using WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks. Alternatively, they could contribute 8% in developer time to work on core WordPress features. WP Engine rejected these terms, citing that the financial demands were unreasonable and that Automattic was misusing its influence to extract unfair payments or workforce contributions.
💬 Impact on the WordPress Community
WP Engine's lawsuit raises broader concerns about governance within the WordPress ecosystem. They argue that Mullenweg’s conduct threatens the trust developers and businesses place in WordPress. In their words, “If left unchecked, these actions could destroy the open-source community.” WP Engine is pursuing this legal action not only to protect their business but to safeguard the principles of the open-source movement. The lawsuit comes as Automattic continues to push for tighter control over the platform, raising questions about its future governance.
How will this lawsuit affect WordPress's open-source future?
