It’s bizarre to obtain texts like “is that this WP drama loopy or is it being blown out of proportion”.
Within the 15 years of operating WPBeginner, I by no means thought I must write a weblog submit overlaying any WP business drama. My focus with the weblog has at all times been to supply top quality free WP tutorials for non-techy newbie customers and small enterprise house owners.
However sadly, we’re at a degree the place lots of misinformation and worry is being unfold about WP by media retailers and influencers who’re hungry for clicks.
That is inflicting panic amongst some web site house owners, companies, in addition to folks in enterprise firms. Some of us are asking questions like whether or not WP remains to be protected and may they seek for an alternate CMS possibility for his or her web sites.
On this submit, I need to clarify what this newest WP drama is about, who it impacts, and what you are able to do to guard your web sites.
TLDR: No, that is NOT the tip of WP, and your web sites are protected.
My Disclaimer:
I’m not a trademark lawyer or authorized knowledgeable. I’m scripting this submit for WPBeginner weblog readers who’re involved about what’s happening. I’ve spent the final 18 years on this neighborhood, and I like WP. These are my opinions based mostly on my business expertise and what I’ve been studying on-line. I’ve no insider information of the scenario. I reserve the suitable to vary my opinions ought to I study new data.
With that out of the best way, let’s leap proper into what’s taking place round this WP drama involving WP Engine vs. Automattic.
What’s This WP Drama All About? (Brief Abstract)
Fast Abstract: There’s a lawsuit between two WP firms (WP Engine and Automattic) round a trademark dispute. As a consequence of their affect, there have been escalations which have led to lots of destructive PR for the WP ecosystem. The overwhelming majority of WP websites are NOT impacted by this in any respect.
This complete factor began as a result of two huge firms within the WP business are in a authorized battle over a trademark dispute.
Automattic is an organization began by WP co-founder, Matt Mullenweg. They’re the creators of WooCommerce, WP.com internet hosting service, Jetpack plugin, and extra.
WP Engine is a managed WP internet hosting firm owned by a big personal fairness agency Silver Lake.
Automattic has the unique business rights to make use of the “WP” trademark. They requested WP Engine to barter a licensing settlement which concerned both funds to Automattic OR elevated contributions to the free open supply WP venture.
As a result of the events failed to come back to an settlement, Matt publicized the dispute on the annual WordCamp US convention, the place he claimed that WP Engine, regardless of being a $400M+ income firm, doesn’t give again sufficient to the free open supply WP venture.
As issues escalated, each firms despatched one another a proper authorized Stop and Desist (C&D) letter. Because of the authorized threats, Matt, as co-founder of WP, banned WP Engine from accessing WP.org servers.
This meant that any buyer with web sites on WP Engine internet hosting had been not capable of obtain updates from WP.org servers.
The ban was later reverted quickly to guard customers and permit WP Engine to construct their very own replace servers. Since WP is open supply, the WP Engine staff was capable of construct their very own updater to make sure customers on their internet hosting platform can get software program updates.
The server block formally went again into impact on October 1st. Shortly after, WP Engine filed a federal lawsuit towards Automattic and Matt Mullenweg.
Because of the escalation, WP Engine’s staff had been banned from accessing their WP.org accounts. This implies the WP Engine staff is not capable of launch updates to their WP plugins from the official WP.org servers.
One of many plugins owned by WP Engine is Superior Unique Fields (ACF) which is widespread amongst builders and utilized by over 2 million web sites. To make sure safety updates can be found to all customers, the WP.org staff forked the ACF plugin, renamed it to Safe Unique Fields (SCF), and took over the unique ACF plugin listing web page with out the consent of WP Engine. The explanations given for this had been to take care of and supply updates to customers who had been unaware of the drama.
This choice was not nicely acquired and garnered lots of destructive feedback from builders, influencers, and press retailers.
On the time of scripting this submit, all different WP Engine plugins are nonetheless out there for obtain on the WP.org plugin listing, nonetheless, the WP Engine staff remains to be banned, so they aren’t ready to make use of WP.org servers to challenge updates.
In abstract, on the root of this WP drama is a heated authorized trademark dispute between WP Engine internet hosting firm, Automattic, and Matt Mullenweg (co-founder of WP).
Since there’s a federal lawsuit filed by WP Engine towards Automattic, I imagine solely the courts can determine the result except the events come to an amicable decision outdoors of the courts. The official WP Twitter account tweeted that the scenario may very well be resolved beneath the next circumstances:
Is that this the Finish of WP?
The reply is NO. Completely not.
WP powers over 43% of internet sites on the web, and it’s larger than anybody particular person or firm. The overwhelming majority of small enterprise house owners and customers of WP don’t even learn about this ongoing drama as a result of it merely doesn’t affect them.
I talked with a neighborhood small enterprise proprietor who’s my private coach, and he wasn’t conscious of the destructive press round WP in any respect. Once I briefly informed him about it, here’s what he mentioned:
“I’m not going to change from WP as a result of some huge firms are having a trademark dispute. What issues to me is that my web site is working and my enterprise is rising.” – Sean Nelson, Founding father of Hustle Coaching 360.
The fact is that the WP software program you constructed your web site with hasn’t modified.
Should you’re utilizing widespread plugins like Elementor, WPForms, WooCommerce, AIOSEO, Duplicator and actually 60,000+ others, they’re nonetheless the identical.
One thing as huge as WP merely doesn’t finish as a result of two firms have a trademark dispute.
Within the grand scheme of issues, there are a small portion of customers who’re impacted, and I’ll share how you could find out in case your web site is impacted, and what you are able to do about it.
Is My Webpage Affected by All of This?
The overwhelming majority of customers and web sites utilizing WP are NOT impacted by this authorized dispute between Automattic and WP Engine.
In case you are utilizing a free plugin that was developed by WP Engine, and you might be NOT on their internet hosting platform, then your web sites are impacted since you will be unable to obtain updates for these free plugins from WP.org.
Listed here are the favored free plugins constructed by WP Engine which are blocked from sending updates from WP.org servers:
- Superior Unique Fields
- Nitropack
- Higher Search Substitute
- WP Move Lite
- WP Offload SES Lite
- Frost
- Genesis Blocks
- Genesis Unique Blocks
- For the complete record, see plugins constructed by WP Engine.
What Can You Do to Shield Your WP Web site?
As I mentioned earlier, in the event you’re not utilizing the plugins made by WP Engine, you then don’t have to do something.
Your WP web site is protected and good to go.
Though, I at all times suggest having common WP backups and utilizing a firewall like Cloudflare (see extra WP safety suggestions).
Now, in the event you’re utilizing the plugins constructed by WP Engine, then you have to to both set up the WP Engine updater plugin to proceed receiving updates or discover an alternate, relying in your private choice.
What Ought to I Do as a WP Company with Involved shoppers?
You possibly can ship them a hyperlink to this weblog submit and re-assure them that WP remains to be protected and by far one of the best open supply CMS possibility out there.
A authorized trademark dispute between two firms does NOT change the truth that WP powers 43% of all web sites (and rising). There are 60,000+ free WP plugins and hundreds of free WP themes out there out there that make it straightforward to construct any kind of web site they need.
WP core improvement progress continues, and WP 6.7 is coming quickly.
Listed here are some extra insights on WP market share and traits.
My Ultimate Ideas
Regardless of all the things that’s happening proper now, I nonetheless love WP, and I imagine in our superb WP neighborhood.
I’ve spent greater than half of my life within the WP neighborhood, and I’ll proceed to do all the things in my energy to assist the neighborhood and our customers. See my current submit on contributing to the WP ecosystem.
Lastly, I really hope that the 2 revered firms concerned within the lawsuit can come to an settlement quickly, so we are able to all give attention to rising WP and serving to democratize publishing & commerce internationally.
As at all times, I need to thanks on your continued assist of WPBeginner, and I stay up for persevering with serving you for years to come back.
Yours Actually,
Syed Balkhi
Founding father of WPBeginner
