A California court orders Automattic and CEO Matt Mullenweg to restore WP Engine’s access to WordPress.org, settling a dispute that impacts millions of users globally.

In a landmark ruling, a California court has ordered Automattic and its CEO, Matt Mullenweg, to restore WP Engine's access to WordPress.org. The decision comes in the wake of a heated dispute that has disrupted access to critical themes and add-ons for WordPress, the platform powering over 40% of websites globally.

Restoring Access: The Court's Decision


On Tuesday, Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin ruled that WP Engine's access to WordPress.org, along with its associated themes, add-ons, and subsets, must be reinstated to their status prior to September 20. This date marked the start of an unprecedented fallout when Mullenweg publicly referred to WP Engine as a "cancer for WordPress" and subsequently barred it from accessing the platform.

WP Engine responded by filing a lawsuit against Automattic and Mullenweg, accusing them of racketeering and abuse of power. The court ruling not only restores WP Engine's access but also mandates the return of the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin, which Automattic had rebranded as Secure Custom Fields.

The Fallout: Impact on WP Engine and WordPress Users


The conflict between Automattic and WP Engine has highlighted tensions within the WordPress ecosystem. After being locked out of WordPress.org, WP Engine lost access to essential tools, including the widely-used ACF plugin, which is critical for developers and businesses relying on custom WordPress solutions.

The court's decision is seen as a victory for WP Engine and its users, as it ensures the continued availability of these vital resources. However, the dispute also raises questions about governance and control within the WordPress community, particularly regarding the balance of power between Automattic and other businesses operating within the ecosystem.

The Bigger Picture: WordPress and Its Ecosystem


WordPress, an open-source platform launched in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg, powers nearly half of the websites on the Internet today. While the software is free and open to individual users, companies like Automattic and WP Engine have built profitable businesses by offering hosting services, plugins, and technical expertise.

Automattic, founded in 2005 by Mullenweg, has been instrumental in monetizing WordPress. WP Engine, a rival company, has similarly leveraged the platform's popularity to grow its business. The ongoing dispute underscores the challenges of managing a decentralized, open-source project while navigating the competitive landscape of commercial entities built around it.

A Path Forward for WordPress


The court's ruling marks a pivotal moment in the WordPress ecosystem, reinforcing the importance of fair competition and collaboration. As WP Engine regains access to WordPress.org, the focus shifts to fostering a more cooperative environment that benefits users and businesses alike. Whether this ruling will ease tensions or spark further debates remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly sets a precedent for resolving conflicts in the open-source community.