https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/2/24260158/automattic-demand-wp-engine-revenue-wordpress-battle
Unbeknownst to millions and millions of people using the internet, there’s a raging battle going on that has potential ramifications for the very fabric of the internet. The battle is between Automattic, the tech company whose open-source software (WordPress) powers 40% of the web, and WP Engine, a company that hosts websites built on WordPress. Things have gotten pretty heated, with CEO of Automattic Matt Mullenweg banning WP Engine from accessing the resources of WordPress.org.
People are divided on the conflict. One one side, people see WP Engine as benefiting from the WordPress brand by using WP in its name. They’re also not giving back to the WordPress project despite making hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue. But others say WordPress is open-source software. Just because a successful business is made out of it doesn’t mean there’s an obligation to give back to the project. If someone uses a laptop to make a great website and earns a lot of money, are they expected to pay the laptop manufacturers a chunk of their earnings? And another question mark is about the power Matt Mullenweg seems to hold. Is this an ego getting out of control? Is the decision to cut off WP Engine from WordPress.org setting a dangerous precedent for the open-source ecosystem?
