Overview of the Rivalry

In an escalating feud between Automattic's CEO Matt Mullenweg and rival web hosting provider WP Engine, the company has launched a website that tracks the departure of WordPress customers from WP Engine. This initiative has stirred significant controversy in the WordPress community.

Details of the Tracker Website

The new tracker, hosted on GitHub, seeks to log how many websites have migrated away from WP Engine since September. Mullenweg, who is revered as a co-founder of WordPress and oversees Automattic, has publicly criticized WP Engine for allegedly failing to pay millions of dollars annually for the use of the "WordPress" trademark. Mullenweg argues that the company does not sufficiently contribute to the WordPress project and has taken measures to pressure WP Engine, including blocking its hosted sites from connecting to WordPress.org for essential updates.

Fallout from the Conflict

This escalating tension has resulted in significant fallout, including the departure of 159 Automattic employees and a federal lawsuit filed by WP Engine. The lawsuit accuses Automattic of extortion, libel, interference with contracts, computer fraud, and unfair competition. A preliminary injunction hearing is set to occur later this month, highlighting the seriousness of the ongoing conflict.

Recent Data and Criticism

Recent data from the WP Engine Tracker reveals that over 16,700 sites have left WP Engine since September 21, an increase from 15,080 as of November 6. However, the tracker does not indicate if any users have subsequently transitioned to WP Engine from Automattic or other hosting platforms. Critiques on platforms like Reddit claim the tracker amounts to "doxxing," as it makes WP Engine customers' details publicly accessible through a downloadable .csv file.

Proposal for Mission Statement Change

Adding to the discourse, a proposal by developer Toby Nieboer suggested changing the website's mission statement to state: "The purpose of this site is to demonstrate how utterly asinine Matt Mullenweg can be," though this was eventually closed without action.

Trademark Compliance Concerns

Ironically, Automattic’s initiative raises questions about trademark compliance, as the company itself has been accused of violating WordPress's trademark policies by incorporating the name "WordPress" in its domain. Automattic's spokesperson defended the site, emphasizing that the data it uses is publicly accessible and showcases WP Engine’s declining reputation since the lawsuit incited scrutiny over their service quality and pricing structure.

Ethical Concerns

Critics point out the lack of transparency regarding the origin of the compiled data. Questions loom whether the .csv file was sourced from public domains or if it secretly utilized non-public WordPress.org access logs, raising ethical concerns about data handling in the open-source sphere.

WP Engine's Response and Future Implications

WP Engine is reportedly aware of the tracker, yet has chosen not to comment on the matter, leaving many in the community anticipating how this rivalry will shape the future interplay between web hosting firms within the WordPress ecosystem.

Conclusion

As this drama unfolds, the implications for users, developers, and the broader open-source community merit close attention. Stay tuned for updates as more details emerge in this turbulent chapter of open-source hosting battles.