WP Engine has taken legal action against Matt Mullenweg, the CEO of Automattic and co-founder of WordPress.
This federal lawsuit accuses Mullenweg of attempted extortion and abusing his position, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the open-source WordPress community.
The dispute stems from comments made by Mullenweg, who referred to WP Engine as a “cancer” that benefits from the WordPress project without contributing adequately.
Background of the Dispute
WP Engine, a competitor to Automattic’s WordPress.com, claims that Mullenweg’s attempts to impose a hefty fee for a trademark license are not only unfounded but also constitute extortion.
The lawsuit specifically alleges that Mullenweg demanded tens of millions of dollars from WP Engine for a license that the company believes is unnecessary and unjustified.
This complaint unfolds against the backdrop of WordPress’s reputation as a community-driven and open-source platform. Mullenweg has long portrayed himself as a guardian of these ideals, pledging to maintain WordPress as an accessible resource for all.
However, WP Engine argues that his actions contradict this commitment, indicating a shift towards monopolistic practices that threaten the ethos of the WordPress community.
Allegations of Misconduct
The legal documents filed by WP Engine detail serious allegations against Mullenweg and Automattic. They claim that Mullenweg’s control over WordPress trademarks has been used to further his own business interests at the expense of fair competition.
The lawsuit states: “The misconduct at issue here is all the more shocking because it occurred in an unexpected place—the WordPress open source software community built on promises of the freedom to build, run, change, and redistribute without barriers or constraints, for all.”
WP Engine is seeking legal remedies that it believes are necessary to protect not only its own business but also the broader WordPress ecosystem.
They contend that Mullenweg’s recent actions have harmed trust within the community, which relies on the premise of openness and collaboration.
The Bigger Picture
This lawsuit highlights a significant rift in the WordPress community. WP Engine’s legal team has stressed that the fallout from Mullenweg’s behavior has impacted more than just their company; it threatens the entire ecosystem of WordPress, which includes countless developers, agencies, and users who have invested their time and resources into building on the platform.
They argue that Mullenweg’s recent conduct has exposed deep-seated conflicts of interest and governance issues that, if not addressed, could undermine the very foundation of the WordPress community.
