WordPress Drama Explained (and How it May Affect Your Website)

As a WordPress expert with over 15 years of experience, I’ve witnessed the platform evolve from a humble blogging tool to a powerful content management system powering over 43% of the internet. However, the recent “WordPress Drama” has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving many website owners and agencies wondering about its impact.

The drama revolves around a heated legal battle between two prominent WordPress companies: Automattic, the company founded by WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, and WP Engine, a managed WordPress hosting provider. This dispute stems from a trademark disagreement, with Automattic claiming exclusive commercial rights to the “WordPress” trademark.

The situation has escalated rapidly, leading to a flurry of negative press, confusion, and a sense of uncertainty within the WordPress ecosystem. Many are concerned about the future of WordPress itself and its potential impact on their websites.

In this comprehensive article, I’ll break down the “WordPress Drama,” explain its core issues, and guide you on how to protect your website. We’ll delve into the key events, the players involved, the potential ramifications, and the steps you can take to navigate this turbulent period.

What is This WordPress Drama All About? (Short Summary)

In a nutshell, the WordPress drama boils down to a legal dispute between Automattic and WP Engine over the use of the “WordPress” trademark. Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Jetpack, and other popular WordPress products, asserts its exclusive commercial rights to the trademark.

Automattic requested WP Engine to negotiate a licensing agreement, which would involve either paying royalties to Automattic or significantly increasing their contributions to the free open-source WordPress project. However, the two parties couldn’t reach an agreement.

The situation took a dramatic turn when Matt Mullenweg publicly addressed the dispute at the annual WordCamp US conference, accusing WP Engine, despite its $400M+ revenue, of not contributing enough to the free open-source WordPress project.

This public statement sparked a series of escalating events:

• Both companies exchanged formal legal Cease and Desist (C&D) letters.
• Matt Mullenweg, leveraging his authority as co-founder of WordPress, banned WP Engine from accessing WordPress.org servers.
• This ban prevented WP Engine customers from receiving automatic updates from WordPress.org servers.
• WP Engine temporarily bypassed the ban by building their own update servers, leveraging the open-source nature of WordPress.
• The server block was re-instated on October 1st, and shortly afterward, WP Engine filed a federal lawsuit against Automattic and Matt Mullenweg.
• In retaliation, the WordPress.org team banned the WP Engine team from accessing their accounts, effectively preventing them from releasing updates for their plugins on WordPress.org.
• This ban affected popular WP Engine plugins like Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), used by over 2 million websites. To ensure security updates reached users, the WordPress.org team forked the ACF plugin, renaming it to Secure Custom Fields (SCF), and took control of the original ACF plugin directory page without WP Engine’s consent.

At the heart of this controversy lies a clash over trademark rights and the ethical responsibility of large companies within the open-source WordPress ecosystem. While the lawsuit is pending, the outcome will likely be determined by the courts unless the parties reach an amicable resolution outside of litigation.

Is This the End of WordPress?

The answer is a resounding NO! WordPress, powering over 43% of websites globally, is much larger than any single individual or company.

The vast majority of WordPress users are completely unaware of this drama because it doesn’t directly affect their websites. The core WordPress software remains unchanged, and popular plugins like Elementor, WPForms, WooCommerce, AIOSEO, and Duplicator continue to function without interruption.

It’s important to remember that WordPress is an open-source platform with a vibrant community of developers, contributors, and users. This drama, while concerning, is unlikely to dismantle the foundation of WordPress. It’s simply a legal dispute between two companies, which is not uncommon in any industry.

Is My Website Affected by All of This?

The vast majority of WordPress websites are NOT affected by this legal dispute between Automattic and WP Engine.

However, if you are using a free plugin developed by WP Engine and are NOT a WP Engine hosting customer, your website might be impacted because you won’t receive updates for those plugins from WordPress.org. Here are the popular free plugins built by WP Engine that are currently blocked from sending updates from WordPress.org servers:

• Advanced Custom Fields
• Nitropack
• Better Search Replace
• WP Migrate Lite
• WP Offload SES Lite
• Frost
• Genesis Blocks
• Genesis Custom Blocks

For a complete list of plugins developed by WP Engine, you can visit their website.

What Can You Do to Protect Your WordPress Site?

If you are not using any WP Engine plugins, you don’t need to take any action. Your WordPress site is safe and running smoothly.

However, I always recommend taking preventative measures to protect your website, such as:

• Regular WordPress Backups: Ensure you have a reliable backup system in place to restore your website in case of any unforeseen issues.
• WordPress Firewall: Implement a robust firewall, like Cloudflare, to protect your website from security threats and malicious attacks.
• Keep WordPress Updated: Regularly update your WordPress core files, plugins, and themes to benefit from security patches and bug fixes.

If you are using plugins developed by WP Engine, you have two options:

• Install the WP Engine Updater Plugin: This plugin allows you to continue receiving updates for WP Engine plugins directly from their servers.
• Find Alternative Plugins: Explore alternative plugins that provide similar functionality to the WP Engine plugins you are using. The WordPress.org plugin directory offers a vast collection of free and premium plugins for various purposes.

What Should I Do as a WordPress Agency with Concerned Clients?

If your clients are expressing concerns about the “WordPress Drama,” you can reassure them that WordPress remains a safe and reliable platform. The legal dispute between two companies does not diminish the vast benefits of using WordPress for building websites.

Here’s how you can address their concerns:

• Provide Information: Share a link to this article or other reliable resources that explain the situation clearly and objectively.
• Emphasize WordPress’ Strength: Remind them that WordPress powers over 43% of websites globally and continues to be the most popular and versatile CMS platform.
• Highlight the Community: Point out the active and supportive WordPress community of developers, contributors, and users who continue to innovate and improve the platform.
• Address Specific Concerns: If clients have specific concerns related to their websites, address them directly. For example, if they are using WP Engine plugins, guide them on the available options for receiving updates.
• Focus on Solutions: Instead of dwelling on the drama, focus on the solutions and resources available to ensure their websites remain secure and functional.

My Final Thoughts

Despite this ongoing drama, I remain a strong advocate for WordPress. I’ve witnessed firsthand the platform’s immense potential and the incredible work done by the WordPress community.

This dispute between Automattic and WP Engine is a reminder that even in the world of open-source software, business interests and legal challenges can arise. However, it’s crucial to remember that WordPress is much larger than any single entity. Its core principles of openness, accessibility, and community remain strong.

I believe that WordPress will continue to thrive and evolve as it has for the past 18 years. This legal dispute, while concerning, is unlikely to derail its trajectory. It’s an opportunity to learn and adapt, fostering a more collaborative and responsible approach within the WordPress ecosystem.

As always, I encourage you to stay informed, follow reliable sources, and prioritize the security and functionality of your WordPress website.

If you have any questions or need further guidance, feel free to leave a comment below.

Yours Truly,

Naveed Ahmed

Conclusion

The “WordPress Drama” is a complex situation with a lot of moving parts. It’s a reminder that even in the world of open-source software, disagreements and legal disputes can arise. However, the resilience of the WordPress community and the platform’s core principles of openness and accessibility remain strong.

While the outcome of this legal battle remains uncertain, it’s important to stay informed and prioritize the security and functionality of your WordPress website.

FAQs

What is the WordPress Drama?

The WordPress drama involves a legal dispute between Automattic, the company founded by WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, and WP Engine, a managed WordPress hosting provider. The dispute centers on the use of the “WordPress” trademark and its commercial rights.

Why is there a lawsuit?

Automattic asserts its exclusive commercial rights to the “WordPress” trademark. They requested WP Engine to enter into a licensing agreement, which would involve either paying royalties to Automattic or significantly increasing their contributions to the free open-source WordPress project. However, the two parties couldn’t reach an agreement, leading to legal action.

Is my website affected by the WordPress drama?

The vast majority of WordPress websites are NOT affected by the legal dispute. However, if you are using free plugins developed by WP Engine and are NOT a WP Engine hosting customer, you may not receive updates for those plugins from WordPress.org.

What are the popular WP Engine plugins that are blocked from updates?

Popular free plugins built by WP Engine that are currently blocked from sending updates from WordPress.org servers include Advanced Custom Fields, Nitropack, Better Search Replace, WP Migrate Lite, WP Offload SES Lite, Frost, Genesis Blocks, and Genesis Custom Blocks.

How can I protect my WordPress website?

If you are not using any WP Engine plugins, your website is safe. However, I always recommend taking preventive measures such as regular backups, implementing a firewall, and keeping your WordPress core files, plugins, and themes updated.

What if I am using WP Engine plugins?

If you are using plugins developed by WP Engine, you can either install the WP Engine Updater Plugin to receive updates directly from their servers or find alternative plugins that provide similar functionality.

Is WordPress still safe to use?

Yes, WordPress is still safe to use. The legal dispute is between two companies and does not affect the overall security and functionality of the platform. WordPress is an open-source platform with a vibrant community of developers, contributors, and users who ensure its continued development and security.

Will this drama affect the future of WordPress?

It’s unlikely that this drama will significantly affect the future of WordPress. While the situation is concerning, it’s crucial to remember that WordPress is much larger than any single entity. Its core principles of openness, accessibility, and community remain strong.

What should I do if I’m a WordPress agency?

Reassure your clients that WordPress is still a safe and reliable platform. Provide information about the situation, emphasize WordPress’ strengths, and focus on solutions to ensure their websites remain secure and functional.

Where can I find more information about the WordPress drama?

You can find more information about the WordPress drama on WPBeginner, other reputable WordPress news websites, and various tech news outlets.

If you’re interested in learning more about tech news, feel free to visit my website: www.naveedahmed.me.