Tag: WP Engine

The open-source giant Automattic and its co-founder Matt Mullenweg are at the center of a legal firestorm. A class action lawsuit accuses them of anti-competitive practices, contract interference, and monopolistic behavior against WP Engine (WPE)—one of the largest managed WordPress hosting providers. The suit alleges that Mullenweg and Automattic weaponized their control over WordPress.

WordPress, an open-source platform quietly powering nearly half of the internet’s websites, remains an unsung hero of the digital age. Behind its meteoric rise stands Matt Mullenweg, a controversial figure who founded WordPress in 2003 and built it into a vast ecosystem underpinned by his private company, Automattic.

The ongoing dispute between open source giant WordPress, represented by its founder Matt Mullenweg and Automattic, and WP Engine, a prominent WordPress hosting provider, has escalated into a significant conflict within the open source community. This report analyzes the key aspects of the battle, its context, and potential broader implications for the open source ecosystem.