A new class action lawsuit has been filed against Automattic and WordPress co-creator Matt Mullenweg, alleging unfair business practices designed to disrupt managed WordPress hosting provider WP Engine (WPE) and its customers. The lawsuit accuses Automattic of interfering with WPE services, restricting access to WordPress resources, and pressuring customers to abandon WPE.
Key Allegations in the Lawsuit
The lawsuit makes several claims against Automattic and Mullenweg, including:
- Disrupting WPE customers’ access to essential WordPress tools.
- Preventing customers from managing their websites effectively.
- Using trademark enforcement as a pretext to degrade WPE’s services.
- Engaging in monopolistic behavior by leveraging control over the WordPress ecosystem for financial gain.
According to the legal filing:
“Defendants deliberately wielded their power over the WordPress.org website like a cudgel, not only blocking access to the website but stealing resources like the ACF plugin, forcing visitors to click a checkbox asserting they are not associated with WPE, publishing WPE customer website addresses in an attempt to pressure customers to leave WPE, and repeatedly threatening future consequences including the risk of additional service disruptions for class members who did not leave WPE.”
Class Action Status & Plaintiff Claims
The lawsuit seeks class action certification, arguing that Automattic’s actions affected a wide range of WPE customers. The plaintiff alleges that WPE customers faced:
- Service disruptions that impacted their ability to manage their websites.
- Financial losses due to degraded service quality.
- Security risks resulting from restricted access to WordPress resources.
The complaint states:
“Plaintiff brings this action as a class action pursuant to Rules 23(a) and 23(b)(1)-(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, on behalf of himself, his business and a Nationwide Class defined as: All persons in the United States who had ongoing active WPE WordPress Web Hosting Plans on or before September 24, 2024 through December 10, 2024.”
Impact on Plaintiff Keller
The plaintiff, Keller, details how these disruptions harmed his business and personal websites. The lawsuit claims:
- Keller’s websites experienced repeated outages despite WPE’s efforts to create workarounds.
- He was forced to spend significant time and money preparing to migrate his websites and clients’ websites to a new host.
- His marketing activities were disrupted due to limited access to his website backend.
- His $3,300 annual investment in WPE services did not deliver the expected value because of Automattic’s alleged interference.
A New Chapter in the Automattic-WP Engine Dispute
This lawsuit marks an escalation in the ongoing conflict between Automattic and WP Engine. With accusations of monopolistic behavior and anti-competitive practices, the case could influence governance and operational policies within the WordPress ecosystem. Some community members have already begun calling for a reevaluation of WordPress’s open-source project governance.
The legal battle continues, and its outcome may have far-reaching consequences for WordPress users and hosting providers.
For further details, you can read the official lawsuit document here: (PDF link).
Stay updated with the latest developments in digital marketing and WordPress by subscribing to our newsletter.
