Wordpress Drama

[drastic]

These numbers could be inflated or deflated, as I haven't fully verified the statistics myself:

WordPress powers 43.5% of all websites as their CMS. Around 478 million websites are built on WordPress. WordPress dominates the CMS market with a 62.6% share.

The initial issue stemmed from lack of contributions (or not enough) by WP Engine to the Wordpress Foundation (though they contribute through code, and not money), and then was changed to an issue of trademark with Automaticc (for the Wordpress Foundation). The retaliation of removing the use of Wordpress.org (which is built as a foundation of most backend Wordpress such as resources, and updates) was purely an emotional and personal action by Matt when WP Engine sent a C&D.

The only reason why this is important is that it has brought to light a lot of issues with the way that Wordpress is managed, and whether or not Matt is a proper steward for the foundation. The amount of control he has as an individual, the amount of control his for-profit company has, and how the Wordpress Foundation management has no check and balance for his behavior is worrisome.



The Thesis developer even admits that they were in the wrong regarding the GPL stuff, however Matt still has been a child up until about 2 years ago afaik. There are a few other examples of petty vindicitive behavior by Matt, though not $100,000 domain purchase petty.

I remember getting that theme back in the day. He's still making youtube videos and running pearsonified now. cool to see him still working on this stuff.

 

[eva2000]

And now Matt has said his Automattic employees that don't agree with his actions can leave, and so the exodus has started https://www.reddit.com/r/Wordpress/s/Q50Y3OiXCW

Looks like 37 Automattic employees have accepted the offer to leave so far

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[Taylor J]

WP Engine not playing around: https://wpengine.com/wp-content/upl...WP-Engine-v-Automattic-et-al-with-Exhibit.pdf

There may be a few other non WPEngine examples of Matt's behavior coming to light soon, just unsure of when.

Matt keeps posting on twitter, and the hacker news threads about this... have his lawyers not told him to shut up yet

 

[CedricV]

WP Engine not playing around: https://wpengine.com/wp-content/upl...WP-Engine-v-Automattic-et-al-with-Exhibit.pdf

There may be a few other non WPEngine examples of Matt's behavior coming to light soon, just unsure of when.

He doesn’t know it yet but Matt is ****ed.

 

[stellaethra]

This garbage software should have died long ago.

 

[Forsaken]

Matt keeps posting on twitter, and the hacker news threads about this... have his lawyers not told him to shut up yet

He seems to be in a full-blown CEO egomania death spiral, so he's probably ignoring everything. Which is stupid, given that most of his business relies heavily on investors, and some of those are going to be very unhappy.

 

[Digital Doctor]

Just like Internet Brands, lawsuits are a sign of weakness.

Big money hassling companies with less money.

This is about money in the end.


Edit

This looks bad.

According to a few online, Josepha Haden Chomphosy, WordPress Executive Director, has left Automattic. Big loss for the WP community if true.

Jeff on X: "I spoke with Josepha tonight. I can confirm that she’s no longer at Automattic. She’s working on a statement for the community. She’s in good spirits despite the turmoil." / X

It’s a concern he doesn’t have the backing of the rest of the community

 

[Suzanne O]

It sounds like the whole vertical scope thing again which wordpress is trying to stop.

 

[Taylor J]

Because he’s in the wrong?

 

[Digital Doctor]

Because he’s in the wrong?

So you think WP Engine contributes enough to Wordpress?

How’d you determine that ?

They contribute a lot less than Automattic.

Wordpress needs a refresh and the more development money they have the better.

 

[Taylor J]

So you think WP Engine contributes enough to Wordpress?

How’d you determine that ?

They contribute a lot less than Automattic.

Wordpress needs a refresh and the more development money they have the better.

They don’t have to contribute, that’s the whole point.

 

[eva2000]

Automattic's response https://automattic.com/2024/10/03/meritless/

 

[Forsaken]

They don’t have to contribute, that’s the whole point.

Don't bother; a bunch of developers tried for years to get him to understand basic concepts and he's still as dense as he was 10 years ago.

Automattic's response https://automattic.com/2024/10/03/meritless/

. Claiming that attempted extortion is meritless is... something.

 

[eva2000]

Looks like WPEngine got banned again

WP Engine Banned Again, Reports Deploying a Solution

After a brief reprieve, WP Engine has been banned again from WordPress.org and the company took to X to share: “Thousands of WordPress community members have once again been blocked from accessing …

wptavern.com

 

[vbresults]

Automattic has retained Neal Katyal, former Acting Solicitor General of the United States, and his firm Hogan Lovells, LLP, to represent us.

That explains Matt's arrogance.

 

[findozor]

They don’t have to contribute, that’s the whole point.

Well, if they don't have to, then the automattic doesn't owe them anything either.

 

[CedricV]

So far 159 people left Automattic - 8.4% of the company walked.

 

[Taylor J]

Well, if they don't have to, then the automattic doesn't owe them anything either.

WPEngine never argued that? WPEngine wanted them to cease with the defamation that Matt keeps spewing, not money, and then Matt got angry and butt hurt about it.

 

[Miri]

So far, 159 people have left Automattic, or 8.4% of the company.

I didn't even know about wpengine, maybe because I always opted for Joomla. Anyway, this topic and especially your post made me curious... But it seems that there is a reason for the exit from wp. So for some it could be convenient. At least according to this post:

Automattic Alignment

Winston Churchill said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Since I last blogged here, WP Engine filed a meritless lawsuit and Automattic responded, and there’s been a hurrican…

ma.tt

 

[CedricV]

I didn't even know about wpengine, maybe because I've always opted for Joomla. Anyway, this topic and especially your post made me curious... But it seems there is a reason for the exit from wp. So for some it might be convenient. At least according to this post:

159 employees are leaving Automattic as CEO's fight with WP Engine escalates | TechCrunch

The employees accepted a severance package offered to those who disagreed with Matt Mullenweg's direction of WordPress and his fight with WP Engine.

techcrunch.com

There’s a good reason for the mass exodus.

Also, Matt has to pay 30k or 6 months payment, whichever is higher to all leaving employees. While he’s capable of handling it, it will definitely leave a mark on his ego.

The guy is toxic, and it isn’t the first time.