WordPress Co-Founder Warns Lawsuits Could Kill WordPress.org

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WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg has warned that ongoing lawsuits stemming from his conflict with hosting provider WP Engine could drag on for years and potentially force the closure of WordPress.org. Mullenweg initiated actions to cut off WP Engine’s access to critical WordPress resources, aiming to drive the hosting company out of business. This infighting has alarmed the entire WordPress community, leaving developers and bloggers fearful about the platform’s future.

Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of WordPress, has issued a stark warning that a series of lawsuits initiated by his conflict with hosting provider WP Engine could drag on for years and potentially force the closure of WordPress.org. The dispute began when Mullenweg publicly moved to cut off WP Engine’s access to key WordPress resources, aiming to drive the hosting company out of business. In response, WP Engine filed a defensive lawsuit to halt Mullenweg’s campaign, prompting him to assert that the legal battle could consume so much time and money that WordPress.org itself might be at risk.

In a series of public statements, Mullenweg emphasized that the only resolution to the conflict is for WP Engine to drop its lawsuit. “Everything I’m doing is to defend the long term health of WordPress. The lawsuits can only be dropped by WPE, as they initiated them,” Mullenweg stated. He further warned, “The lawsuits will go years and could potentially bankrupt me or force the closure of WordPress.org. It also takes a huge amount of time — there is no ‘lawyers work on that.’” Additionally, he predicted, “The cases will stretch into 26 and 27, so it’s hard to say what the environment will be or the court will order.”

The backlash from the WordPress community has been swift and largely negative. A prominent WordPress user, who has spent twelve years publishing nearly 600 free WooCommerce tutorials and 500 newsletters, took to Twitter to plead with Mullenweg. The user wrote:

“Dear @photomatt,

We love WordPress. It’s not just software; it’s a livelihood for thousands of developers, freelancers, and small agencies. We don’t have millions like you do—every change, every piece of WPdrama costs us time, clients, and money.

We need stability. We need to focus on building, supporting, and growing businesses, not worrying about the next big upheaval or leadership conflict. Let’s move toward clarity, collaboration, and transparency.

Please consider pausing the current direction to listen. The community wants a strong future for WordPress—one where everyone, from volunteer contributors to top-level sponsors, can work together without fear of losing what we’ve built.

We don’t ask this lightly. Our livelihoods depend on it.

Thank you.”

Despite these pleas, Mullenweg remains steadfast in his position, believing that his actions are necessary for the long-term health of WordPress. However, a federal judge has recently sided with WP Engine by granting a preliminary injunction, effectively halting Mullenweg’s efforts to further disrupt WP Engine’s operations. In court documents, the judge stated that Mullenweg’s actions — including terminating WP Engine’s access to WordPress and interfering with third-party plugins — posed an immediate threat to WP Engine’s business. The judge explicitly rejected Mullenweg’s arguments, emphasizing WP Engine’s significant interest in securing relief from the ongoing conflict.

The negative sentiment has spilled over into online communities, with the creation of the “WP Drama” subreddit serving as a focal point for discussions about the conflict. Users have expressed shock and frustration, with many questioning Mullenweg’s decisions and fearing the potential demise of WordPress.org. Comments range from expressions of personal distress to considerations of migrating to alternative content management systems like Drupal or ClassicPress.

For example, one user stated, “We need to focus on building, not worrying about the next big upheaval,” while another lamented, “I cannot imagine a worse fate than to be consumed by multiple multiyear, multimillion dollar lawsuits. To say nothing of suffocating his baby, and alienating his fans, admirers, and loyal customers.”

As the legal battle continues, the future of WordPress.org remains uncertain. Mullenweg’s insistence that only WP Engine can end the conflict by dropping their lawsuit places the onus on WP Engine, which has shown no indication of backing down. With the preliminary injunction in place and a community that fears for the platform’s future, the likelihood of WordPress.org’s closure has become a real concern among its vast user base.

For many, WordPress is more than a blogging tool — it underpins a global network of websites and powers the livelihoods of freelance developers, small agencies, and major publishers. The growing number of users discussing migration to alternatives underscores the platform’s precarious position. 

Legal experts caution that without a resolution, the protracted litigation could sap the collaborative spirit that has driven WordPress’s success. Mullenweg’s actions, intended to protect what he perceives as the platform’s long-term health, may instead be alienating the very community that has sustained it for over a decade. The situation remains fluid, with no clear path to reconciliation and a community left grappling with the potential loss of a tool that millions depend on daily.

In conclusion, Matt Mullenweg’s warnings about the future of WordPress.org highlight a critical moment for the platform. The intersection of legal battles and community trust could determine whether WordPress continues to thrive or faces an untimely end. As both sides remain entrenched, the WordPress community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that preserves the platform’s integrity and ensures the stability of the livelihoods that depend on it.

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