Automattic has filed counterclaims against WP Engine, accusing the hosting firm of misusing the WordPress trademark and exploiting the open source ecosystem for profit without meaningful contribution.
Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, has filed counterclaims against WP Engine, alleging trademark misuse, deceptive marketing, and bad faith negotiations in an escalating battle over open source ethics and brand integrity. The dispute centres on WP Engine’s use of the “WordPress” name and its alleged failure to contribute to the open source community.
According to Automattic, WP Engine abused the WordPress trademark by referring to itself as “The WordPress Technology Company” and allowing partners to call it “WordPress Engine.” The hosting provider also launched products such as “Core WordPress” and “Headless WordPress,” and falsely claimed to dedicate 5% of its resources to supporting the WordPress ecosystem. Automattic further accuses the firm of pretending to negotiate a trademark licence in good faith while deliberately delaying progress.
The conflict traces back to October 2024, when WP Engine sued Automattic and its CEO Matt Mullenweg for defamation after he labelled the company a “cancer to WordPress.” Automattic had already banned WP Engine from accessing WordPress.org resources and issued a cease-and-desist notice for trademark violations.
Automattic’s filing also highlights the role of private equity firm Silver Lake, which invested $250 million in WP Engine. The counterclaims allege Silver Lake’s financial interests drove WP Engine’s trademark violations, including attempts to sell the company for $2 billion.
In response, WP Engine stated: “WP Engine’s use of the WordPress trademark to refer to the open-source software is consistent with longstanding industry practice and fair use under settled trademark law, and we will defend against these baseless claims.”
The case could reshape how open source trademarks and fair use are defined in commercial ecosystems.
