On October 2, 2024, WP Engine, a leader in WordPress hosting services, filed a lawsuit against Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and WooCommerce.
As a business owner, this might seem like a tech industry issue that won’t affect your day-to-day operations. However, as a company that relies heavily on websites to generate leads and manage your customer relationships, it’s essential to understand the implications of this lawsuit.
At Leadhub, we host all of our clients’ websites with WP Engine because they are the best in class, and we want to reassure you that we are closely monitoring the situation to ensure there is no disruption to your business.
What Is The Lawsuit About?
WP Engine has long been a trusted hosting provider within the WordPress community, helping businesses — including many HVAC and plumbing companies — manage their websites seamlessly. WP Engine has accused Automattic and its CEO, Matthew Mullenweg, of “extortion, libel, and slander” in a legal battle over the use of WordPress-related trademarks.
Specifically, WP Engine claims that Automattic demanded tens of millions of dollars for a trademark license that WP Engine argues it does not need. According to WP Engine’s complaint, Automattic sought this payment to unfairly “wage war” against WP Engine and push their customers toward Automattic’s competing services.
The lawsuit also accuses Automattic of attempting to tarnish WP Engine’s reputation, blocking their access to WordPress resources, and making false public statements that could harm their business.
Why This Matters For HVAC And Plumbing Companies
If your website is hosted on WP Engine, you may be wondering if this legal dispute will affect your business. At Leadhub, we’ve already taken proactive steps to ensure your websites stay up and running, and we remain confident that WP Engine will continue to provide reliable service.
As Leadhub CEO Aaron Watters said, “We are confident WP Engine and Matthew Mullenweg will come to an agreement, and our client sites will not be impacted.”
But rest assured, we are not willing to risk your website’s uptime. While WP Engine remains our preferred hosting partner, we’re also exploring other options as a backup measure. “Client uptime is our number one priority. We are closely monitoring the situation and exploring additional solutions to safeguard our clients’ sites,” Watters added.
What’s Next?
The lawsuit is still ongoing, but WP Engine is fighting to ensure that businesses like yours can continue to use WordPress without interruption. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to ensure your business website stays protected:
- Regular backups — Make sure your website is backed up frequently. At Leadhub, we ensure all client websites are backed up automatically, but it’s good to double-check that you have recent copies of all important data.
- Open communication — We’ll keep you informed about any updates or potential impacts from this lawsuit. Our team is in constant contact with WP Engine to stay updated on their progress.
- Stay calm — We’ve got your back. WP Engine has been a trusted partner for over a decade, and we expect a positive resolution that ensures the stability and security of your website.
Leadhub: Your Marketing Partner Through It All
While the WP Engine vs. Automattic lawsuit may sound alarming, we’re confident that this situation will not disrupt the services we provide. “Leadhub’s clients rely on us to ensure their websites stay live, optimized and secure,” said Aaron Watters. “We’re exploring all avenues to make sure this remains the case, regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome.”
At Leadhub, we pride ourselves on staying ahead of potential challenges to your business. Whether you’re in HVAC, plumbing or another home service industry, your website is a critical tool for attracting customers — and we’ll continue to do everything we can to protect it.
If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We’re here to ensure your business continues to run smoothly, no matter what happens in the tech world.
