WP Engine Vs Automattic And Mullenweg Returns to The Spotlight

WP Engine faces off with Automattic as Matt Mullenweg returns to the spotlight, reigniting discussions about WordPress leadership and platform direction.

In its Second Amended Complaint, WP Engine repleads six of the most important claims previously dismissed with leave to amend. The Court indicated to WP Engine in September 2025 that while it was dismissing WP Engine’s claims in the first amended complaint, the claims could be repleaded in a second amended complaint. This legal drama is far from over and has heated up with the new filing.

Court’s Initial Rulings and Dismissals

The ruling from September 2025 took the teeth out of two claims, but only on purely technical grounds, not on the merits:

• Count 4: Attempted Extortion: Based on California Penal Code provisions inapplicable to civil cases
• Count 16: Trademark Misuse: Only available as a defense, not a claim

Other counts, including antitrust and monopolization violations, were dismissed but with leave to amend. In the meantime, WP Engine seized the opportunity and refiled an updated complaint.

WP Engine Refiles Six Refined Claims

The Second Amended Complaint re-adds six of the core claims, with revisions and additions aimed at responding to the defendant’s motion to dismiss by the court earlier this month:

• Count 3: Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)
• Count 12: Attempted Monopolization (Sherman Act)
• Count 13: Illegal Tying (Sherman Act)
• Count 14: Illegal Tying (Cartwright Act)
• Count 15: Lanham Act Unfair Competition
• Count 16: Lanham Act False Advertising (re-numbered; distinct from dismissed trademark misuse claim)

Clearer Market Definitions Provided

Certainly, an important improvement is how WP Engine has defined relevant markets over 27 pages of text. The complaint identifies four markets relevant to the dispute:

Web Content Management Systems (CMS) Market: Open-source and proprietary CMS platforms, focusing on WordPress ecosystem dominance

WordPress Web Hosting Services Market: Hosting providers serving WordPress sites, impacted by Automattic’s alleged influence over WordPress.org and trademark controls

WordPress Plugin Distribution Market: Centralized access via WordPress.org plugin repository, purportedly controlled as an exclusive channel by Automattic

WordPress Custom Field Plugin Market: A more niche focus on plugins like Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), where competitive suppression is claimed

Enhanced Allegations

The amended filing outlined new claims that bolster WP Engine’s argument for Automattic’s monopoly power:

• Control over official WordPress plugin and theme repositories is essential for visibility
• Matt Mullenweg’s dual role as Automattic CEO and WordPress.org overseer, allegedly enabling coordinated market exclusion
• WordPress powers over 40% of all websites globally, illustrating Automattic’s pervasive influence
• Specific acts restricting WP Engine’s access to resources and community, including threats and leveraging trademark control
• Alleged de facto tying arrangements linking WordPress.org participation to compliance with Automattic governance

Reaction and Next Steps

Although publicly, Matt Mullenweg has described previous court rulings as wins, WP Engine continues the fight in their 175-page complaint and refilings.

Mullenweg sounded upbeat in his response to the September 2025 ruling:

“Just got word that the court dismissed several of WP Engine and Silver Lake’s most serious claims — antitrust, monopolization, and extortion have been knocked out!”

Automattic and Mullenweg now have to respond to these allegations, which means that the legal back and forth is now set to continue for some time to come.

The lawsuit is still unfinished, and dives great into definitions of markets, possible anti-trust activity, control over platforms, and competitive practices in the WordPress ecosystem.

Bottom Line

With these differing plaintiff remands, WP Engine hopes to address the court’s concerns and prove a more general history of exclusionary conduct by Automattic and Mullenweg.