Automattic says it would begin contributing to WordPress once more after pause
WordPress.com dad or mum firm Automattic is altering route… once more.
In a weblog put up titled “Returning to Core” revealed Thursday night, Automattic introduced it would unpause its contributions to the WordPress challenge. That is regardless of having mentioned solely final month that the 6.8 WordPress launch could be the ultimate main launch for all of 2025.
“After pausing our contributions to regroup, rethink, and plan strategically, we’re able to press play once more and return totally to the WordPress challenge,” the brand new weblog put up states. “Look forward to finding our contributions throughout the entire biggest hits — WordPress Core, Gutenberg, Playground, Openverse, and WordPress.org. This return is a second of pleasure for us because it’s about persevering with the mission we’ve at all times believed in: democratizing publishing for everybody, in all places,” it reads.
Automattic says it’s discovered rather a lot from the pause by way of the various methods WordPress is used, and that it’s now dedicated to serving to it “develop and thrive.”
The put up additionally notes that WordPress at the moment powers 43% of the net.
It’s unclear what has modified between then and April.
Nevertheless, in response to sources who spoke to TechCrunch, Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg defined in an inside put up revealed final evening that he needs to get a 6.9 launch out this 12 months with an admin refresh and one thing from the “new AI staff.” (The latter references this week’s announcement that WordPress shaped a brand new staff to steward the event of AI tasks.)
“I don’t suppose that may occur with out our contributions,” the put up acknowledged, in response to a supply accustomed to the interior discussions.
Insiders are speculating there’s extra to it than that, and varied theories are being floated. Some marvel if Mullenweg was pressured into this transfer or if he realized that pulling again wasn’t good for his enterprise or its popularity? Others are debating if this modification of coronary heart has to do with Automattic’s ongoing litigation with WordPress internet hosting firm, WP Engine, which Automattic has known as a “menace” to the WordPress group and a “most cancers to WordPress.”
Nobody is aware of what to imagine, and none of those backchannel theories line up with the formally acknowledged purpose.
Automattic was requested for extra remark.
Since 2024, Automattic has been engaged in a authorized dispute that has to do with how little, in Mullenweg’s opinion, WP Engine contributes to the WordPress challenge, regardless of its measurement and income.
He sees the internet hosting firm as profiting off the open supply work WordPress is doing with out giving again. Mullenweg additionally alleges that WP Engine advantages from the confusion between WordPress and business providers like WP Engine. This led him to ban the corporate from accessing WordPress.org and sue in court docket for unauthorized trademark utilization.
Merely put, Mullenweg thinks WP Engine ought to both pay a direct licensing price or up its contributions to the open supply WordPress challenge, or shouldn’t be allowed to make use of its trademark.
WP Engine responded that it doesn’t suppose it wants a license and that Automattic misunderstands trademark regulation, suing Automattic in return.
Final month, Automattic laid off 16% of employees, saying the restructuring was essential to be extra agile and enhance its productiveness and profitability.
Sarah Perez will be reached at @sarahperez.01 on Sign and sarahp@techcrunch.com .