Matt Mullenweg Warns WordPress.org Could Face Closure Amid Legal Battle

In a striking development, Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress, has suggested that ongoing lawsuits could potentially lead to the closure of WordPress.org, a cornerstone of the open-source content management system (CMS) that powers over 40% of the web. Mullenweg asserted that the resolution of the conflict hinges on WP Engine dropping its legal case against him—a situation rooted in a larger dispute he initiated in an attempt to challenge the hosting provider's practices.

Community Concern: A Plea for Stability

The escalating drama has sent ripples through the WordPress community, prompting an outpouring of concern from developers, freelancers, and small agencies who depend on the platform for their livelihoods. One WordPress user, known for publishing hundreds of free WooCommerce tutorials and newsletters over the years, issued a heartfelt plea to Mullenweg on Twitter:

“Dear @photomatt,

We love WordPress. It’s not just software; it’s a livelihood for thousands of developers, freelancers, and small agencies. We don’t have millions like you do—every change, every piece of WPdrama costs us time, clients, and money.

We need stability. We need to focus on building, supporting, and growing businesses, not worrying about the next big upheaval or leadership conflict... Please consider pausing the current direction to listen. The community wants a strong future for WordPress—one where everyone, from volunteer contributors to top-level sponsors, can work together without fear of losing what we’ve built.”

The Core of the Dispute

Mullenweg has defended his actions as being in the interest of the long-term health of WordPress, stating that the legal conflict was initiated by WP Engine in response to his attempts to curb practices he viewed as harmful to the ecosystem.

He clarified his position in a tweet:

“The lawsuits can only be dropped by WPE, as they initiated them. Everything I’m doing is to defend the long-term health of WordPress.”

However, Mullenweg acknowledged the gravity of the situation, revealing that the lawsuits could drag on for years and might even jeopardize the future of WordPress.org:

“The lawsuits will go years and could potentially bankrupt me or force the closure of WordPress.org. It also takes a huge amount of time—there is no ‘lawyers work on that.’”

Court Ruling: WP Engine Gains Preliminary Injunction

In a setback for Mullenweg, a federal judge granted WP Engine a preliminary injunction to block his actions, which included restricting WP Engine’s access to WordPress.org resources and imposing burdens on its customers. The court’s decision highlighted the potential harm to WP Engine and dismissed Mullenweg’s legal arguments as insufficient.

Negative Community Backlash

Reactions within the WordPress community have been overwhelmingly negative. Discussions on platforms like Reddit reveal frustration, disappointment, and concerns about the platform's sustainability.

Comments from community members included:

• “I’m personally moving my sites to either Drupal or ClassicPress just haven’t decided yet.”
• “Matt was in a position to just relax and enjoy his wealth and fame but chose another path.”
• “This is heartbreaking to watch. Matt is threatening billions of dollars of livelihoods.”

The situation has become so contentious that an entire subreddit was created to contain discussions about the conflict.

The Bigger Picture

The escalating legal and leadership disputes highlight a deeper challenge for open-source projects like WordPress: balancing the interests of individual contributors, corporate stakeholders, and the broader community. For a platform that has thrived on its collaborative ethos, the conflict raises existential questions about governance, transparency, and the future of open-source software.

As the lawsuits stretch into 2026 and potentially beyond, the WordPress community faces an uncertain future. For now, stability and collaboration remain elusive, and the question of whether the world’s most popular CMS can weather this storm remains unanswered.

Background: Understanding WordPress and Its Importance

WordPress was launched in 2003 as a free, open-source CMS. Over two decades, it has grown into a platform that powers millions of websites, from personal blogs to major corporations. Its success is rooted in its open-source philosophy, which allows developers and users to contribute, customize, and extend its functionality freely.

Services like WP Engine, a managed WordPress hosting provider, have played a critical role in supporting businesses and individuals who rely on WordPress for their digital presence. This makes the current conflict particularly significant, as it threatens not just the platform’s reputation but also the livelihoods of countless users who depend on it.

For now, the community hopes for a resolution that prioritizes stability, collaboration, and the enduring success of WordPress.