It’s bizarre to obtain texts like “is that this WordPress drama loopy or is it being blown out of proportion”.
Within the 15 years of working WPBeginner, I by no means thought I must write a weblog publish protecting any WordPress business drama. My focus with the weblog has at all times been to supply top quality free WordPress tutorials for non-techy newbie customers and small enterprise homeowners.
However sadly, we’re at a degree the place lots of misinformation and worry is being unfold about WordPress by media shops and influencers who’re hungry for clicks.
That is inflicting panic amongst some web site homeowners, businesses, in addition to folks in enterprise corporations. Some people are asking questions like whether or not WordPress remains to be protected and may they seek for another CMS possibility for his or her web sites.
On this publish, I need to clarify what this newest WordPress drama is about, who it impacts, and what you are able to do to guard your web sites.
TLDR: No, that is NOT the top of WordPress, and your web sites are protected.
My Disclaimer:
I’m not a trademark lawyer or authorized skilled. I’m penning this publish for WPBeginner weblog readers who’re involved about what’s occurring. I’ve spent the final 18 years on this neighborhood, and I like WordPress. These are my opinions based mostly on my business expertise and what I’ve been studying on-line. I’ve no insider data of the state of affairs. I reserve the precise to vary my opinions ought to I study new info.
With that out of the best way, let’s bounce proper into what’s taking place round this WordPress drama involving WP Engine vs. Automattic.
What’s This WordPress Drama All About? (Brief Abstract)
Fast Abstract: There’s a lawsuit between two WordPress corporations (WP Engine and Automattic) round a trademark dispute. As a consequence of their affect, there have been escalations which has led to lots of adverse PR for the WordPress ecosystem. Overwhelming majority of WordPress websites are NOT impacted by this in any respect.
This entire factor began as a result of two massive corporations within the WordPress business are in a authorized battle over a trademark dispute.
Automattic is an organization began by WordPress co-founder, Matt Mullenweg. They’re the creators of WooCommerce, WordPress.com internet hosting service, Jetpack plugin, and extra.
WP Engine is a managed WordPress internet hosting firm owned by a big personal fairness agency Silver Lake.
Automattic has the unique industrial rights to make use of the “WordPress” trademark. They requested WP Engine to barter a licensing settlement which concerned both funds to Automattic OR elevated contributions to the free open supply WordPress mission.
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 WordPress mission.
As issues escalated, each corporations despatched one another a proper authorized Stop and Desist (C&D) letter. Because of the authorized threats, Matt as co-founder of WordPress, banned WP Engine from accessing WordPress.org servers.
This meant that any buyer with web sites on WP Engine internet hosting have been not capable of obtain updates from WordPress.org servers.
The ban was later reverted temporarily to guard customers and permit WP Engine to construct their very own replace servers. Since WordPress 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 have been banned from accessing their WordPress.org accounts. This implies the WP Engine staff is not capable of launch updates to their WordPress plugins from the official WordPress.org servers.
One of many plugins owned by WP Engine is Superior Customized 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, WordPress.org staff forked the ACF plugin, renamed it to Safe Customized Fields (SCF), and took over the unique ACF plugin listing web page with out the consent of WP Engine. The explanations given for this was to take care of and supply updates to customers who’re unaware of the drama.
This choice was not effectively acquired and garnered lots of adverse feedback from builders, influencers, and press shops.
On the time of penning this publish, all different WP Engine plugins are nonetheless accessible for obtain on WordPress.org plugin listing nevertheless WP Engine staff remains to be banned, so they don’t seem to be ready to make use of WordPress.org servers to challenge updates.
In abstract, on the root of this WordPress drama is a heated authorized trademark dispute between WP Engine internet hosting firm, Automattic, and Matt Mullenweg (co-founder of WordPress).
Since there’s a federal lawsuit filed by WP Engine towards Automattic, I consider solely the courts can resolve the result until the events come to an amicable decision outdoors of courts. The official WordPress twitter account tweeted that the state of affairs could be resolved below the next situations:
Is that this the Finish of WordPress?
The reply is NO. Completely not.
WordPress powers over 43% of internet sites on the web, and it’s larger than anyone particular person or firm. The overwhelming majority of small enterprise homeowners and customers of WordPress don’t even learn about this ongoing drama as a result of it merely doesn’t affect them.
I talked with an area small enterprise proprietor who’s my private coach, and he wasn’t conscious of the adverse press round WordPress in any respect. After I briefly advised him about it, here’s what he mentioned:
“I’m not going to modify from WordPress as a result of some massive corporations 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 Training 360.
The fact is that the WordPress software program you constructed your web site with hasn’t modified.
If you happen to’re utilizing widespread plugins like Elementor, WPForms, WooCommerce, AIOSEO, Duplicator and actually 60,000+ others, they’re nonetheless the identical.
One thing as massive as WordPress merely doesn’t finish as a result of two corporations 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 Web site Affected by All of This?
The overwhelming majority of customers and web sites utilizing WordPress are NOT impacted by this authorized dispute between Automattic and WP Engine.
If you’re 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 WordPress.org.
Listed below are the favored free plugins constructed by WP Engine which can be blocked from sending updates from WordPress.org servers:
- Superior Customized Fields
- Nitropack
- Higher Search Substitute
- WP Migrate Lite
- WP Offload SES Lite
- Frost
- Genesis Blocks
- Genesis Customized Blocks
- For the complete checklist, see plugins built by WP Engine.
What Can You Do to Defend Your WordPress Website?
As I mentioned earlier, if you happen to’re not utilizing the plugins made by WP Engine, you then don’t have to do something.
Your WordPress website is protected and good to go.
Though, I at all times suggest having common WordPress backups and utilizing a firewall like Cloudflare (see extra WordPress safety suggestions).
Now, if you happen to’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 another, relying in your private desire.
What Ought to I Do as a WordPress Company with Involved shoppers?
You possibly can ship them a hyperlink to this weblog publish and re-assure them that WordPress remains to be protected and by far one of the best open supply CMS possibility out there.
A authorized trademark dispute between two corporations does NOT change the truth that WordPress is powered by 43% of all web sites (and rising). There are 60,000+ free WordPress plugins, and hundreds of free WordPress themes accessible out there that makes it straightforward to construct any sort of web site they need.
WordPress core improvement progress continues, and WordPress 6.7 is coming quickly.
Listed below are some extra insights on WordPress market share and traits.
My Closing Ideas
Regardless of the whole lot that’s occurring proper now, I nonetheless love WordPress, and I consider in our wonderful WordPress neighborhood.
I’ve spent greater than half of my life within the WordPress neighborhood, and I’ll proceed to do the whole lot in my energy to assist the neighborhood and our customers. See my latest publish on contributing to the WordPress ecosystem.
Lastly, I really hope that the 2 revered corporations concerned within the lawsuit can come to an settlement quickly, so we are able to all give attention to rising WordPress and serving to democratize publishing & commerce internationally.
As at all times, I need to thanks in 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
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