The Automattic vs WP Engine WordPress wars are getting really annoying
- Reference: 1734701527
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/12/20/opinion_column_wordpress/
- Source link:
It is and remains such a no-brainer that today, WordPress powers nearly half of the internet's websites. But, then, just this year, things went bad. Really, really bad.
WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, who founded and is the CEO of [1]Automattic , the company behind WordPress, decided that WordPress hosting power [2]WP Engine was a [3]"cancer to WordPress."
[4]
Excuse me?
[5]
[6]
There are oodles of web hosting companies that offer WordPress. There is also a small horde of developers and their businesses that make their living from offering pre-designed templates that control a site's appearance and plugins, add-ons that extend WordPress sites' functionality without needing to be a PHP programming pro. WordPress, like Linux, MySQL, and Apache, has created a whole ecosystem of open source products.
WP Engine is just one of many companies that has profited from WordPress. It's arguably the most successful third-party WordPress company, with an [7]estimated value of somewhere between $500 million and $1 billion . Automattic, which is [8]worth north of $7.5 billion , though, is the undisputed heavyweight champ of WordPress.
[9]
So, what has WP Engine done that's upset Mullenweg? Honestly, I don't know.
Oh, I know what he says. If you've been paying attention to WordPress news, you know it too. But, to refresh your memory, it all began in September 2024 when [10]Mullenweg publicly criticized WP Engine in his WordCamp keynote address, accusing the company of exploiting the WordPress name and ecosystem.
Really? In my mind, WordPress is the software WP Engine uses, and everyone knows WP Express is not WordPress. It's like someone telling me that Red Hat Linux is Linux. No, no, it's not. It's a Linux distro. WP Engine is one of the hundreds of web hosting companies that offer WordPress hosting. I know some people make that kind of dumb mistake, but it's still just a dumb mistake. WP Engine is not – sorry, Mullenweg – trying to pull the wool over customers' eyes.
[11]
Oh, and Mullenweg also accused one of WP Engines' backers, [12]Silver Lake , a private equity firm, of [13]hollowing out the WordPress open source community because they're hell-bent on making money. Oh, and Automattic investors, [14]Avant Global and [15]BlackRock , aren't there for the money? Please!
The Automattic CEO also argues that WP Engine's decision to disable WordPress revisions by default reflects how WP Engine is no friend to its customers. "They are strip-mining the WordPress ecosystem, giving our users a crappier experience so they can make more money." Really? You can always get it enabled, or if it bugs you that much, you can move to another WordPress hosting company that does have it on by default.
It's not a big deal. Get over it already.
But, of course, it did become a big deal. The situation took a dramatic turn on September 25 when [16]Mullenweg blocked WP Engine's access to WordPress.org resources, effectively crippling functionality for millions of websites hosted by WP Engine. That went over well.
As the dispute went on, it inevitably went to the lawyers. We're now seeing [17]dueling lawsuits and cease-and-desist orders. This is yet another wake-up call for anyone who got into tech thinking they'd never ever needed to worry about the law.
The conflict took another contentious turn when Mullenweg announced that WordPress would be " [18]forking " WP Engine's popular Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin, renaming it Secure Custom Fields. This move was unprecedented in WordPress's 21-year history, with no plugin ever being forcibly taken from its creator without consent.
Mullenweg justified the action by citing security concerns and the need to remove commercial upsells. I'm not sure anyone except he and his friends and family buy that.
The dispute has had far-reaching consequences within the WordPress ecosystem. At Automattic, [19]159 employees (8.4 percent of the workforce) accepted Mullenweg's offer to leave with a severance package, expressing their disagreement with his handling of the situation.
The conflict is now spilling into community events, with WP Engine's sponsorship of WordCamp Sydney revoked. Additionally, WordPress.org implemented a controversial login checkbox requiring users to confirm they were not affiliated with WP Engine, thus further isolating the hosting company from the community.
So far, Automattic is losing the early legal rounds. I can't say this surprises me. Its arguments are, in this columnist's opinion, weak. [20]WP Engine secured a preliminary injunction against Automattic in December 2024. This is the biggest legal development to date. A California District Court judge ordered Automattic to cease blocking WP Engine's access to WordPress.org resources and stop interfering with its plugins.
Of course, it's not over yet — far from it. I see this battle going on well into 2025 and possibly for years after that. Heck, the 20-plus-year-old [21]SCO/IBM Linux lawsuit is still staggering on like a zombie . No, really, [22]it is , and here's the [23]court order to prove it .
Like that infamous lawsuit, the WordPress vs WP Engine conflict has raised serious questions about the nature of open source software and the power dynamics within such ecosystems. It has exposed the tension between the ideals of open source collaboration and the realities of commercial interests built upon these foundations. It has also highlighted the potential vulnerabilities of relying on centralized resources like WordPress.org, which can become chokepoints.
Mullenweg is demanding WP Engine give [24]8 percent of its gross revenue in exchange for using the WordPress trademark . What would then keep Automattic from demanding the same of anyone offering WordPress services? Not a darn thing.
Goodness knows we've seen many [25]open source businesses turn their back on open source licenses to try to make more money in recent years. Mullenweg isn't doing that, but Automattic is trying to use its trademarks in a similar manner.
In a leaked internal Automattic legal memo, the company's then-chief legal officer, Paul Sieminski, argues that [26]it is the only company allowed to use WordPress in its name and branding . For those of a legal bent, yes, the WordPress trademark actually belongs to the non-profit [27]WordPress Foundation . Still, Sieminski argues that since Automattic holds WordPress's exclusive commercial license, the company can threaten companies that use the WordPress trademark with cease and desist or [28]Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDNDRP) letters if they don't pay up. And, if that doesn't work, Automattic would sic "nice and not nice lawyers and trademark enforcers" on the offending companies.
[29]WordPress.org denies service to WP Engine, potentially putting sites at risk
[30]WP Engine hits back after Automattic CEO calls it 'cancer'
[31]Latest in WordPress war: Automattic says it wanted 8% cut of WP Engine revenue
[32]The open secret of open washing – why companies pretend to be open source
Why is Mullenweg really doing this? I don't buy his excuses. Perhaps, when push comes to shove, it's all about the money. Mullenweg is a millionaire, but it appears he's not a billionaire. Could it be that petty? Could it be that stupid?
Of course, this is open source. If Mullenweg keeps on his course, people could always fork the program. I know people like me who've used WordPress for decades and are now wondering if they should look elsewhere. Indeed, WordPress has already been forked before. Oddly, Mullenweg wrote a blog proclaiming " [33]Forking is Beautiful " in October, detailing previous and current WordPress forks. Of course, he also claims that WP Engine is a WordPress fork that he wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole."
He may have cause to regret that statement before the WordPress vs. WP Engine dispute is over. WordPress wouldn't be the first, or last, open-source program whose leadership drove it into the rocks while a fork sailed on to a safe harbor. ®
Get our [34]Tech Resources
[1] https://automattic.com/
[2] https://wpengine.com/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/24/wp_engine_claims_automattic_ceo/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Z2WitoV9VxBt4bCF0Grm4wAAAIA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Z2WitoV9VxBt4bCF0Grm4wAAAIA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Z2WitoV9VxBt4bCF0Grm4wAAAIA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/wp-engine/company_financials
[8] https://www.forbes.com/companies/automattic/
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Z2WitoV9VxBt4bCF0Grm4wAAAIA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/24/wp_engine_claims_automattic_ceo/
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Z2WitoV9VxBt4bCF0Grm4wAAAIA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://www.silverlake.com/
[13] https://wordpress.org/news/2024/09/wp-engine/
[14] https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/avant-global
[15] https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/blackrock
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/26/wordpressorg_denies_service_to_wp/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/15/wp_engine_antitrust_automattic_lawsuit/
[18] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/14/wordpress_forks_wpengine_plugin/
[19] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/04/automattic_offers_dissident_employees_incentive/
[20] https://www.theregister.com/2024/12/11/wp_engine_wins_injunction_against/
[21] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/30/sco_tsg_vs_ibm_settlement/
[22] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65760456/xinuos-inc-v-international-business-machines-corporation/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc
[23] https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-york/nysdce/7:2022cv09777/589607/192/
[24] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/02/automattic_wp_engine_wordpress_license/
[25] https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/12/linux_foundation_opinion/
[26] https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/internal-blog-post-reveals-automattics-plan-to-enforce-the-wordpress-trademark-using-nice-and-not-nice-lawyers/
[27] https://wordpressfoundation.org/
[28] https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/help/dndr/udrp-en
[29] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/26/wordpressorg_denies_service_to_wp/
[30] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/24/wp_engine_claims_automattic_ceo/
[31] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/02/automattic_wp_engine_wordpress_license/
[32] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/25/opinion_open_washing/
[33] https://wordpress.org/news/2024/10/spoon/
[34] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Bonkers
Talk about batshit crazy... or are certain drugs legal in their jurisdiction. I'd have thought "typing while under the influence" is pretty stupid.
The guy needs a legal whipping for just being a jackass. And those companies jumping on the bandwagon and sucking his schlong to get on that list of "move away to us" list should be blacklisted for being opportunistic. The same thing Matt complains about, except when he is getting the oral pleasure...
"If Mullenweg keeps on his course, people could always fork the program."
If WP Engine fork it then they would need to pay for development of that fork and the whole issue Mullenweg has was WP Engine is over WP Engine not wanting to pay for development costs.
It has been licensed as a free open source application. Th very definition of free means you don't pay. That is how WP became as popular. So why should one specific company pay for WP?
I'm not sure what that has to do with what I said. Automattic make WordPress, Automattic want WP Engine to pay for part of the development cost and are making life difficulty for WP Engine until they do. WP Engines only recourse is to fork WordPress into their own project, but that then means they would have to pay for the development of their fork.
Automattic could decided to take their money and liquidate the business tomorrow, nobody can force them to continue developing WordPress. GPL does not entitle you to continued support from the developer.
Grow up Matt. The free effort of thousands of developers is what helped to develop Wordpress in the first place.
No, Automattic don't make WordPress. They are licensed to use its trademarks, and provide development which is given to the WordPress Foundation, who make WordPress.
This blurring of lines is part of the problem here.
You're making the mistake of using logic on the Internet and the mob has decided Mullenweg must be hated on and any point he makes. And while his tantrums are making that rather easy the fact nobody has forked WordPress does indicate he has a point. The big community players clearly believes the project is more trouble than it's worth to take on themselves so clearly WordPress has a free loading problem. Mullenweg just handled it in the worst way possible.
Actually, no. Did you miss all the explanations about [1]Libre vs [2]Gratis?
There is nothing against selling Free Software, it's just difficult.
[1] https://directus.io/blog/libre-vs-gratis-what-is-free-and-open-source-software
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratis_versus_libre
Good article.
It's amazing how rich both these companies are. Obviously I'm naive about how much Open Source brings in, but $7.5 billion? For a few thousand lines of php?
Most of that revenue deep be site to simple hosting income really. Hosting millions of sites will bring in a lot of cash.
Oddly enough...
I'm listening to an 80s radio station and as I read this, Depeche Mode were singing " the grabbing hands grab all they can, everything counts in large amounts ".
We've seen this enough times in the past. Seemingly normal people end up running a company that does something and makes loads of money (a valuation they always seems a little high to my mind, but whatever...) and then the person running it gets paranoid about their baby and restrictive in ways that would have sunk the company before it started if they were like that in the beginning; and often in ways that are contrary to the ethos that made them what they are.
I'm not a lawyer and I'm sure I don't understand the merits of the respective legal arguments which will ultimately be decided in court.
However, if it were the case that one could (a) trademark the identity of an open source project in such a way that commercial organisations offering hosting solutions would need a licence even to mention the name of the project they hosted and/or (b) there were no requirement to issue such licences on a FRAND basis then I think it's reasonable to suggest we would have to reconsider our notions of "open source".
nice diatribe, but not much insight
If venting helps you deal, then here's to your health.
If you doubt mullenweg's stated reason, then make the case. But making (large) commercial concerns suppport Foss, why not ?
"You can always get it enabled, or if it bugs you that much, you can move to another WordPress hosting company that does have it on by default."
I think the choice argument is a red herring. e.g. "If you don't like Chrome, use another browser." "If you don't like gmail.com, use another email provider." etc... These are true at the most pedantic level. But once a product becomes ginormous it gets to shape the market and set the terms of engagement. The number of people who are prepared to go to the effort of using a different product/host and put up with a degraded experience are a rounding error. (Admittedly, most of them are rounded up on El Reg.) I bet many of us carry the IE6 scars because it couldn't be ignored.
So if you are willing to say the law matters to open source (and I think it does) then you also have to concede that market forces and the network effect matter, too. So this is a battle about who gets to shape that market and be the driving force behind Wordpress. WP Engine is large enough to be a threat to Automattic. However altruistic (or otherwise) you think the participants' motives are, I think we can all acknowledge this is a dick swinging contest for the future of Wordpress.
Considering that seven months before the first salvo of the WordPress and WPEngine scuffle Mullenweg embroiled himself in some really... [1]deranged behaviour related to the other website Automattic owns , and I think... yeah, maybe this pattern of not respecting boundaries and taking that propertarian view a little bit too far might be a pattern for the guy.
It's almost like feeling entitled and not respecting community norms [2]can be a pattern of behaviour, and not just isolated moments of derangement .
(I'm not saying that Mullenweg is a sexual harasser. I am saying he's a pain old harasser, though.)
[1] https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/tumblr-ceo-transphobic-moderation-controversy
[2] https://freethoughtblogs.com/kriswager/2020/10/10/the-iceberg-theory-of-sexual-harassment/
WP Engine is not WP Express
> In my mind, WordPress is the software WP Engine uses, and everyone knows WP Express is not WordPress.
Everyone also knows WP Engine is not WP Express ...
Where have we seen this before?
The new conspiracy theory is that Matt Mullenweg may have become possessed by the ghost of Roger McAfee.
Re: Where have we seen this before?
Personally, he see what is going on with Musk and him running the USA and Mr Mulleweg has decided that he wants some of that.
A plague on all their shoulders (Esp Musk)
Problemattic
The problem is that I knew my new content management system wouldn't get ahead in a crowded field without being open source but obviously it was my baby. I used trademarks and board-level control of the owning foundation but still a few people were not playing by my rules. This is like when I was young and people beat me at football when it was my ball we were playing with. The solution worked then and it will work now. My ball!
Bonkers
IMHO the guy has gone bonkers. He is the Gregg Wallace of open source. Just read through his supposedly Christmas Holiday announcement and watch as his eyes begin to glaze and losing site of his keyboard fingers letting rip in a manner that his crisis managers and lawyers are covering their eyes in despair.
This guy needs help. Not that he is going to listen to any. Great article by the way.
[1]https://wordpress.org/news/2024/12/holiday-break/
[1] https://wordpress.org/news/2024/12/holiday-break/