WP Engine’s Lawsuit Against Automattic: Key Claims Proceed Amid Significant Developments

WP Engine's Lawsuit Against Automattic Advances Despite Partial Dismissals A federal court has allowed WP Engine to proceed with nine claims in its lawsuit against Automattic and Matt Mullenweg, while dismissing four claims in a ruling that shapes the ongoing legal battle between the major WordPress hosting providers. "We are pleased the majority of our claims are moving forward and are confident in the strength of our legal position and ability to succeed at trial," a WP Engine spokesperson told Search Engine Journal. Key Legal Claims Proceeding The court permitted several significant allegations to proceed, including claims of intentional interference with contractual relations and prospective economic advantage. These claims could entitle WP Engine to damages if proven successful. A particularly notable surviving claim involves alleged unauthorized access under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). This centers on accusations that Automattic covertly replaced WP Engine's Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin with their own Simple Custom Fields (SCF) plugin on customer sites without permission. The court also allowed defamation-related claims to continue, stemming from public statements where Mullenweg allegedly described WP Engine as "parasitic" and offering a "cheap knock-off" of WordPress. Impact on WordPress Ecosystem The ongoing legal dispute between these major WordPress hosting providers has significant implications for the broader WordPress community. According to WordPress.org's official statistics, WordPress powers over 43% of all websites, making this case particularly significant for the web hosting industry. Dismissed Claims and Legal Next Steps Two claims were fully dismissed: Attempted extortion under California Penal Code Trademark misuse The judge dismissed antitrust claims of monopolization and attempted monopolization with leave to amend, noting WP Engine failed to adequately define the relevant market. The court found that "consumers entering the WordPress ecosystem by electing a WordPress web content management system would know they were locked-in to WordPress aftermarkets." Industry Implications This legal battle highlights crucial considerations for WordPress hosting providers and users: The case may establish precedents for plugin management practices It could influence future relationships between hosting providers and WordPress The outcome might impact hosting service pricing and competition The lawsuit continues to evolve, potentially reshaping the WordPress hosting landscape and establishing new standards for provider conduct within the ecosystem.