A US federal court has granted hosting provider WPEngine's request for a preliminary injunction against WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg and Automattic Inc., marking a significant development in an ongoing dispute over access to WordPress.org resources.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of California issued the order on December 10, 2024, requiring Mullenweg to restore WPEngine's access to WordPress.org within 72 hours and remove restrictions implemented since September 2024.
According to court documents, the dispute began in September 2024 when Mullenweg and Automattic's CFO Mark Davies demanded WPEngine pay substantial licensing fees, with Davies warning of a "scorched earth nuclear approach" if the company did not comply. After WPEngine declined, Mullenweg blocked the company's access to WordPress.org resources and implemented various restrictions affecting WPEngine's operations.
Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín's order details how Mullenweg took several actions against WPEngine, including blocking access to WordPress.org's plugin repository, modifying WPEngine's Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin, and requiring users to certify they were "not affiliated with WP Engine in any way" to access WordPress.org.
The court found that WPEngine demonstrated a likelihood of success on its claims of tortious interference with contractual relations. Evidence presented showed that WPEngine experienced a 14% increase in daily cancellation requests between September 26-30, followed by a 17% increase between October 1-14, compared to early September figures.
The impact extended beyond immediate cancellations. According to court documents, 63 customers – approximately 12% of WPEngine's expected new business – declined to upgrade or purchase new accounts in September, citing concerns over the legal dispute. Self-service sign-ups dropped by 29% in late September, while migration plugin installations surged by 375%.
In granting the injunction, the court considered four key factors: likelihood of success on the merits, irreparable harm, balance of equities, and public interest. The judge determined that all factors favored WPEngine's position.
Particularly notable was the court's assessment of public interest, given WordPress's significant market presence. The order cited that "more than 40% of the websites operating today run on WordPress," emphasizing the broader implications for website operators and businesses relying on WordPress infrastructure.
The preliminary injunction requires several specific actions from Mullenweg and Automattic:
- Restoration of WPEngine's access to wordpress.org as it existed before September 20, 2024
- Removal of restrictions targeting WPEngine customers and affiliates
- Return of control over WPEngine's ACF plugin directory listing
- Removal of the sign-in pledge requiring users to certify non-affiliation with WPEngine
- Cessation of interference with WPEngine's plugin updates and administrative access
Notably, the court declined to require WPEngine to post a bond, typically required for preliminary injunctions. The judge found "any harm to Defendants resulting from the issuance of preliminary injunctive relief is unlikely, as it merely requires them to revert to business as usual as of September 20, 2024."
The dispute emerged after negotiations broke down regarding licensing fees. Court documents reveal that Automattic demanded either 8% of WPEngine's gross revenue or commitment of 8% of revenue toward WordPress core development, presenting these terms hours before Mullenweg's keynote address at WordCamp US Convention.
Following WPEngine's refusal, Mullenweg implemented various measures affecting WPEngine's operations and customers. These included modifying WPEngine's ACF plugin, which serves over 2 million websites, and restricting access to essential WordPress.org resources.
The court record shows Mullenweg made several public statements during this period, including encouraging WPEngine customers to not renew contracts and suggesting employees might face retaliation for supporting the company. Automattic's competing hosting service, Pressable, simultaneously launched campaigns targeting WPEngine customers with offers to cover contract termination costs.
The ruling represents a significant interim victory for WPEngine but does not resolve the underlying dispute. Both parties must maintain the status quo while the case proceeds to trial. Automattic has indicated it plans to file counterclaims against WPEngine.
WPEngine CEO Heather Brunner welcomed the ruling, stating it "provides much-needed stability for the WordPress ecosystem." Automattic characterized the order as "preliminary" and designed to maintain the status quo, expressing confidence in prevailing at trial.
The case highlights tensions within the open-source software community regarding commercialization and control. It raises questions about the balance between maintaining open-source principles and commercial interests in the WordPress ecosystem, which powers a substantial portion of the internet.