Court orders Automattic to restore WP Engine’s access to WordPress.org

Court orders Automattic to reinstate WP Engine's WordPress.org access after banning.

: A judge ruled that Automattic and CEO Matt Mullenweg must restore WP Engine's WordPress.org access. Mullenweg banned WP Engine, labeling it harmful to WordPress. WP Engine's lawsuit claims Automattic's actions as extortion, leading to the ruling. This decision also restores WP Engine's control over its plugin on WordPress.org.

A California judge has ordered Automattic, led by CEO Matt Mullenweg, to restore WP Engine's access to WordPress.org, which was revoked in September. WP Engine, a third-party WordPress hosting provider, sued Automattic for extortion and power abuse, enforcing a preliminary injunction.

The ban led to WP Engine losing control over its Advanced Custom Field plugin, which Automattic rebranded as Secure Custom Fields. The court's decision demands WP Engine's plugins and access rights be restored, signaling a victory for WP Engine in this legal battle.

The case raises concerns about the WordPress community's open-source model and stability. Debates have emerged about fair contributions to open-source projects, with WP Engine claiming this ruling brings stability and Automattic planning to challenge future claims.

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