What happened?

On September 25, 2024, WordPress.org blocked WP Engine from accessing its platform’s critical resources, such as themes and plugins. In a post on WordPress.org, WordPress co-creator and Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg explained the decision, citing unresolved legal disputes and concerns over WP Engine’s business practices:

WP Engine wants to control your WordPress experience, they need to run their own user login system, update servers, plugin directory, theme directory, pattern directory, block directory, translations, photo directory, job board, meetups, conferences, bug tracker, forums, Slack, Ping-o-matic, and showcase. Their servers can no longer access our servers for free.

• Matt Mullenweg

This move means that websites hosted on WP Engine can no longer install or update plugins and themes directly from WordPress.org. Businesses that rely on WP Engine are now facing disruptions.

Why Was WP Engine Banned?

1. Trademark Disputes: WP Engine’s use of the WordPress trademark in its branding drew criticism from Automattic, which argued that WP Engine was benefiting from the WordPress name without proper agreements.
2. Business Model Conflicts:: WP Engine’s managed hosting service offers a controlled WordPress experience but was seen as not contributing enough to the WordPress community while profiting from its open-source ecosystem.

What Does This Mean for WP Engine Customers?

Without access to WordPress.org’s resources, WP Engine customers are unable to update themes or plugins automatically. While WP Engine has proposed manual solutions, these workarounds are complicated and time-consuming.

Many businesses now face the difficult choice of staying with WP Engine or migrating to another host — a costly and disruptive process.

The Bigger Picture

This ban highlights deeper issues within the WordPress ecosystem:

• Centralized Control: WordPress.org’s role as both a community-driven platform and a business has sparked concerns about its centralized power.
• Open-Source Dilemmas: Balancing community-driven development with corporate interests has proven challenging.

If you rely on WordPress for your business, this situation underscores the risks of depending too heavily on centralized platforms. A similar conflict could impact other services in the future.

At Small Business Websites, we take a different approach. We build custom-coded websites that operate independently of third-party platforms like WordPress. This means no reliance on external companies that could limit your site’s functionality or force you into costly migrations.