WordPress grants WP Engine "reprieve" - but they'll need to be quick

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WP Engine users gets temporary access to WordPress servers

WordPress on a laptop
Image credit: Shutterstock (Image credit: Shutterstock)

The battle between Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg and WP Engine, a WordPress hosting provider, continues in full swing, but the former is cutting the latter, and its customers, a very brief moment of slack.

"We have lifted the blocks of their servers from accessing ours, until October 1, UTC 00:00. Hopefully this helps them spin up their mirrors of all of WordPress.org’s resources that they were using for free while not paying, and making legal threats against us", Mullenweg wrote on WordPress.org's blog.

A little over a week ago, Mullenweg likened WP Engine to a “cancer” for the way it benefitted from the open source WordPress project without giving back sufficiently. The disruptions subsequently left WP Engine customers uncertain about access to update tools, but Mullenweg is now giving them a short period to resolve potential issues.

Mullenweg gives WP Engine users temporary access

A little over a week ago, Mullenweg likened WP Engine to a “cancer” for the way it benefitted from the open source WordPress project without giving back sufficiently.

The disruptions subsequently left WP Engine customers uncertain about access to update tools, but Mullenweg is now giving them a short period to resolve potential issues.

In a brief note, Mullenweg criticizes WP Engine for promising “Unmatched performance, automated updates, and bulletproof security ensure your sites thrive” – arguing the company has since failed to provide.

“WP Engine was well aware that we could remove access when they chose to ignore our efforts to resolve our differences and enter into a commercial licensing agreement,” he added

Criticizing WP Engine CEO Heather Brunner, Silver Lake’s Managing Direction Lee Wittlinger, and their Board, he goes on to call WPE “reckless.”

WP Engine hasn’t stayed quiet amid the turmoil; its lawyers sent a cease and desist letter to Mullenweg, who heads up both the WordPress.com hosting business and the WordPress.org project.

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Craig Hale
Craig Hale

With several years’ experience freelancing in tech and automotive circles, Craig’s specific interests lie in technology that is designed to better our lives, including AI and ML, productivity aids, and smart fitness. He is also passionate about cars and the decarbonisation of personal transportation. As an avid bargain-hunter, you can be sure that any deal Craig finds is top value!