Automattic, the parent company of WordPress, has experienced a significant upheaval as 159 employees have exited amid the intensifying legal feud between CEO Matt Mullenweg and WP Engine. This development follows a heated dispute over trademark violations, with WP Engine accused of misusing the “WordPress” brand for its own benefit. Mullenweg’s stance, labeling WP Engine as harmful to the ecosystem, led to the banning of certain WP Engine products from accessing WordPress plugins and themes, disrupting many of the company’s hosted websites.
WP Engine, a major player in web hosting, retaliated by filing a lawsuit accusing Mullenweg of extortion and unethical demands. The lawsuit, which includes allegations of libel and slander, highlights claims that Automattic requested an eight percent royalty on WP Engine’s revenue, which the hosting company refused to pay. WP Engine maintains that its use of the “WordPress” name complies with legal requirements and asserts that it has operated within the bounds of trademark law.
The rift has drawn attention to Automattic’s ongoing legal and public relations challenges, with employees reportedly leaving due to the increasing internal and external pressures. Most of the departing employees were from the company’s WordPress ecosystem and app divisions, including key roles in Tumblr and Cloudup, two of Automattic’s high-profile acquisitions. Despite this, Mullenweg sought to downplay the significance of the departures, claiming that a vast majority of employees chose to stay, even foregoing potential severance packages.
