WP Engine files court petition seeking reinstatement of access to WordPress.org


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Cristian Labarca

WordPress.org, the development project for WordPress, blocked access from WP Engine on September 25, 2024. It has now been revealed that WP Engine has filed a petition in court seeking restoration of access to WordPress.org.

PLAINTIFF WPENGINE, INC.'S NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION; MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES
(PDF file) https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.437474/gov.uscourts.cand.437474.17.0.pdf

WP Engine files an injunction to get its WordPress.org access back | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/18/wp-engine-files-an-injuction-to-get-its-wordpress-org-access-back/

WP Engine asks court to stop Matt Mullenweg from blocking access to WordPress resources - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/18/24273448/wp-engine-injunction-matt-mullenweg-wordpress-resources

WP Engine is a company founded in 2010, whose main business is WordPress hosting services. However, in September 2024, WordPress developer Matt Mullenweg claimed that 'WP Engine makes money from WordPress, but has made little contribution to the development of WordPress,' and posted an article containing similar opinions on the official WordPress.org blog.

Automattic CEO and WordPress developer Matt Mullenweg sharply criticizes WP Engine as 'a cancer for WordPress' - GIGAZINE


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In addition, Mr. Mullenweg updated the official WordPress.org blog on September 25, 2024, reporting that WordPress.org had blocked access from WP Engine. WP Engine was no longer able to receive security updates and other services provided by WordPress.org.

WordPress announces it will block access from WP Engine, stating that 'users whose sites are broken should ask WP Engine to fix them' - GIGAZINE



It has now become clear that WP Engine has filed a petition with the court seeking an injunction to block WordPress.org. WP Engine is seeking to restore access to WordPress.org to the state it was before September 20, 2024, and is arguing that 'the attempts of Mr. Mullenweg and Automattic (where he serves as CEO) are increasing security risks to the entire WordPress community,' and that 'WordPress community developers want assurances that they will not be subject to unreasonable demands or have their plugins confiscated by Mr. Mullenweg.'



An Automattic spokesperson told The Verge, 'WP Engine's claims are based on a gross misunderstanding. WP Engine has prioritized its own interests over the WordPress community and has sought to profit from the hard work of Matt, Automattic, and the WordPress community for free.'

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