The drama continues in the WordPress world. Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, the company behind the popular open-source platform, has fired back in a legal battle with WP Engine, a major WordPress hosting service.

Mullenweg and Automattic are requesting the court to dismiss WP Engine’s lawsuit accusing them of libel and extortion (PDF version). Their response, filed on Wednesday, paints a different picture than the one presented by WP Engine earlier this month.

Things got heated in October when WP Engine sued Automattic and Mullenweg. They accused Mullenweg of launching a “scorched earth” campaign against them. The lawsuit centered on two main claims:

• Trademark infringement: WP Engine alleges Automattic is unfairly accusing them of trademark infringement for using the term “Headless WordPress” in a product offering.
• Lack of contribution: WP Engine claims they’ve been unfairly cut off from resources on WordPress.org, the open-source project that Mullenweg co-founded and Automattic largely manages. Additionally, WP Engine argues they contribute enough to the project, despite Mullenweg’s claim to the contrary.

Mullenweg’s response is clear: WP Engine isn’t entitled to anything. He argues that WP Engine built their business on a free service (WordPress.org) and never had a guaranteed right of access. He emphasizes the “open-source” nature of the project, suggesting WP Engine shouldn’t be surprised by the lack of obligation to provide them with specific resources.

The filing states, “The mere fact that WP Engine made the risky decision to base its growing business on a site to which it has no rights or guarantee of access, without making backup plans, is not enough for it to conjure a claim out of legal thin air.”

Mullenweg seems unfazed by the potential fallout from this public fight. In a recent interview, he asserted that battling WP Engine is “obviously” worth the risk. However, developers in the WordPress ecosystem are nervous. They fear this spat could lead to similar actions against them, potentially jeopardizing their access to crucial resources.

What’s next?

The court will hear WP Engine’s case against WordPress on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 2 pm PT. Until then, the WordPress community will likely be glued to developments, waiting to see how this legal battle unfolds and what it means for the future of the platform.