WP Engine sues WordPress co-creator Mullenweg and Automattic, alleging abuse of power
WP Engine has filed a lawsuit against Automattic, and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, accusing them of extortion and abuse of power.
Web hosting provider WP Engine has filed a lawsuit against Automattic, and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, accusing them of extortion and abuse of power. The lawsuit comes after nearly two weeks of tussling between Mullenweg, who is also CEO of Automattic, and WP Engine over trademark infringement and contributions to the open-source WordPress project.
The Allegations Against Automattic and Matt Mullenweg
WP Engine, a managed WordPress hosting company, has accused Automattic, the company behind WordPress.org, and its CEO Matt Mullenweg of violating the principles of open-source software. Specifically, WP Engine alleges that Automattic and Mullenweg are trying to exert control over the WordPress community by imposing constraints on developers and restricting their freedom to build, run, modify, and redistribute WordPress projects.
The Criticism of WP Engine by Matt Mullenweg
The controversy began when Matt Mullenweg, the CEO of Automattic, criticized WP Engine for allegedly infringing on WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks. Mullenweg described WP Engine as the "Cancer of WordPress", suggesting that the company was harming the open-source community. WP Engine responded to the criticism by sending a cease-and-desist letter, asking Mullenweg and Automattic to withdraw their comments.
The Counter-Cease-and-Desist Letter
Automattic then sent a counter-cease-and-desist letter to WP Engine, accusing the company of infringing on WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks. This letter marked the beginning of a back-and-forth battle between the two companies over trademark infringement and the legitimacy of WP Engine's activities.
The Banning of WP Engine from WordPress.org Resources
In an effort to restrict WP Engine's ability to host and support WordPress projects, Mullenweg banned the company from accessing WordPress.org resources, including plugins and themes. This move was seen as an attempt to limit WP Engine's ability to provide support and services to WordPress users. However, Mullenweg later provided a temporary reprieve, allowing WP Engine to access WordPress.org resources until October 1.
The Proposed Term Sheet
Later, Automattic sent a proposed seven-year term sheet to WP Engine, requesting a 8% royalty fee on WP Engine's gross revenues per month for using the WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks. The term sheet offered WP Engine two options:
WP Engine refused to accept either option, citing concerns that they would restrict its ability to fork plugins and extensions from Automattic and WooCommerce.
The Lawsuit
WP Engine subsequently filed a lawsuit in a California court, accusing Mullenweg of having a "long history of obfuscating the true facts" about his control of WordPress Foundation and WordPress.org. The lawsuit also alleges that Mullenweg has conflicts of interest, which could potentially destroy trust in the WordPress community. WP Engine claims that it has no choice but to pursue this case to protect its employees, agency partners, customers, and the broader WordPress community.
The Context of the Controversy
The controversy surrounding WP Engine and Automattic is significant because it highlights the tension between the open-source community and commercial entities that rely on open-source software. Automattic, as the company behind WordPress.org, has a unique position in the community, and its actions are being closely watched by developers and users.
The dispute also raises questions about the nature of open-source software and the principles that govern its development and distribution. WP Engine's allegations suggest that Automattic is trying to exert control over the WordPress community by imposing constraints on developers and restricting their freedom to build, run, modify, and redistribute WordPress projects.
The controversy is likely to continue, with both parties engaging in a public battle over trademark infringement, royalty fees, and the future of the WordPress community.
How do you think this situation will affect WP Engine's reputation and business in the long run?
Could this dispute lead to a fork in the WordPress project?