Wed Sep 25 07:55:47 UTC 2024: ## WordPress Hosting Giants Clash in Trademark Battle: WP Engine and Automattic Trade Cease-and-Desist Letters
**SAN FRANCISCO –** The WordPress community is facing a potential legal showdown as hosting providers WP Engine and Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, trade cease-and-desist letters over trademark rights. The dispute escalated rapidly after Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg publicly criticized WP Engine for “profiteering” off the open-source WordPress project.
Automattic claims WP Engine has built a $400 million business by illegally using the WordPress trademark and misleading consumers about its affiliation with WordPress. It further accuses WP Engine of unfairly competing with Automattic and generating “unjust enrichment” from its actions.
In its letter, Automattic demands WP Engine compensate for its profits made from using the trademark and threatens legal action if the dispute isn’t settled amicably.
WP Engine, on the other hand, defends its use of the “WordPress” trademark under fair use laws, arguing that Automattic has a “profound misunderstanding” of both trademark law and the WordPress Foundation’s policies. They also allege Mullenweg demanded a significant percentage of WP Engine’s revenue in exchange for a trademark license, and when this demand was refused, launched a smear campaign against the company.
Adding fuel to the fire, the WordPress Foundation has updated its Trademark Policy page, specifically calling out WP Engine for confusing users into believing it is directly associated with WordPress.
This brewing legal battle has the potential to disrupt the WordPress hosting landscape, with concerns raised about its impact on providers offering specialized WordPress services. The outcome of this dispute could have far-reaching implications for the entire WordPress community.
First Piper 