The WordPress vs WP Engine drama escalates to a lawsuit: What you need to know

A public battle between WordPress and WP Engine has escalated into a full-blown lawsuit, raising questions about trademark rights, contributions to the open-source community, and corporate governance.

The conflict began when Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of its parent company Automattic, labeled WP Engine a “cancer to WordPress” during a September conference. He criticized the hosting provider for profiting from WordPress’s open-source software while contributing minimally to the community.

Mullenweg pointed out the disparity in contributions through the ‘Five for the Future’ program, highlighting that Automattic contributed 3,786 hours per week compared to WP Engine’s mere 47 hours.

The Cease-and-Desist Letters

Following Mullenweg's remarks, WP Engine sent a cease-and-desist letter to Automattic, demanding that Mullenweg retract his comments, which they deemed “false, harmful, and disparaging.” In response, Automattic fired back with its own cease-and-desist letter, accusing WP Engine of misusing the WordPress trademark.

Automattic alleged that WP Engine's business, which generates over $400 million annually, relies on unauthorized use of WordPress intellectual property, leading to “unjust enrichment.” Additionally, Mullenweg claimed that Automattic had long sought a licensing agreement with WP Engine, offering options for direct fees or in-kind contributions, both of which WP Engine refused.

Escalation to Lawsuit

On October 2, 2024, WP Engine filed a federal lawsuit against Mullenweg and Automattic, alleging libel and extortion. The suit claims that the defendants have orchestrated a scheme to exclude WP Engine from the WordPress community unless they pay “tens of millions of dollars” for a trademark license that they argue is unnecessary. WP Engine’s complaint accuses Mullenweg and Automattic of inflicting harm on both the company and the broader WordPress ecosystem through their “scorched earth campaign,” which it argues could threaten trust within the community.

Response and Reactions

In response to WP Engine's lawsuit, Automattic called the complaint “flawed from start to finish,” with Neal Katyal, the attorney representing Automattic, asserting that the claims are meritless. He expressed confidence in the legal proceedings, emphasizing that the court will carefully consider the lawsuit's validity.

WP Engine has stated that it feels compelled to pursue legal action to protect its employees, agency partners, customers, and the WordPress community at large. The company argues that Mullenweg's conduct exposes significant conflicts of interest and governance issues that could undermine the open-source platform’s integrity.

Implications for the WordPress Community

As the feud unfolds, it poses broader implications for the WordPress community. The dispute underscores tensions between for-profit entities and open-source ideals, raising questions about how such conflicts may impact the future of the WordPress ecosystem.

Both companies have firmly entrenched positions, leaving the resolution of this dispute uncertain and potentially significant for developers and users alike.