WordPress Founder Matt Mullenweg Says Lawsuits Could Destroy the Platform

Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress, has raised concerns that ongoing lawsuits could lead to the closure of WordPress.org. He stated that the conflict, which he initiated, may drag on for years and could bankrupt him or force the platform to shut down.

Mullenweg emphasized that the lawsuits could only be ended if WP Engine, the company suing him, drops its legal action. In a recent tweet, Mullenweg explained that the lawsuits could stretch into 2026 and 2027, creating uncertainty for WordPress’ future.

He claimed that WP Engine’s lawsuit was preventing him from continuing his efforts to drive the company out of business, which he argued was necessary for WordPress’ long-term health. The situation has caused concern among WordPress users, many of whom rely on the platform for their livelihoods.

One long-time WordPress user, who has published hundreds of tutorials and newsletters, pleaded with Mullenweg to reconsider his actions, calling for stability and collaboration within the WordPress community.

Despite the backlash, Mullenweg remains firm, stating that the only way to end the conflict is for WP Engine to drop the lawsuit. A federal judge recently ruled against Mullenweg, granting WP Engine a preliminary injunction to block his actions against the company.

The WordPress community has expressed frustration, with many users considering switching to other platforms like Drupal or ClassicPress. Discussions on Reddit have been largely negative, with some users worried about the impact of the lawsuits on the open-source ecosystem and the future of WordPress.