Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, has announced it will resume contributions to the WordPress open-source project after a five-month hiatus. The decision follows a turbulent period marked by legal disputes with WP Engine and comes as the company reaffirms its commitment to WordPress Core, Gutenberg, Playground, Openverse, and WordPress.org.
Powering over 43% of all websites, WordPress remains a cornerstone of the internet, and Automattic’s return signals a renewed focus on sustaining the platform’s growth and innovation within its vibrant open-source community.
Five for the Future: Fueling WordPress Sustainability
Introduced by WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg in 2014, the Five for the Future initiative encourages organizations to dedicate 5% of their resources to WordPress development. This aspirational program fosters a sustainable ecosystem by balancing contributors and users, supporting activities like core development, documentation, and community events.
Companies participating in the initiative gain early access to WordPress updates, recruitment opportunities, and influence over the platform’s direction. Recent data indicates over 150 organizations, including Yoast and SiteGround, actively contribute, with Automattic pledging to reinvest in this program to ensure WordPress remains a robust digital public good.
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Automattic vs. WP Engine: A Resolved Conflict?
The past five months saw Automattic embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with WP Engine, a managed WordPress hosting provider. The conflict began in September 2024 when Automattic temporarily blocked WP Engine’s access to WordPress.org services, prompting WP Engine to file a lawsuit on October 2, 2024, alleging extortion and abuse of power.
The dispute escalated with class action lawsuits filed in February and May 2025 by WP Engine customers, claiming service disruptions and financial losses. Automattic has denied these allegations, filing motions to dismiss.
The company’s decision to resume contributions suggests a potential de-escalation, though ongoing legal proceedings may continue to shape the WordPress ecosystem’s dynamics.
Did You Know?
WordPress powers over 455 million websites globally, with its market share growing by 0.4% annually, driven by contributions from over 2,000 active developers in 2024.
WordPress Evolution: From Blogging Tool to Global CMS
Since its inception in 2003 as a fork of b2/cafelog, WordPress has grown from a simple blogging platform to the world’s leading content management system. Key milestones include the 2004 launch of WordPress 1.0, the introduction of themes in 2005, and the transformative Gutenberg block editor in 2018.
Recent releases, such as WordPress 6.7 “Rollins” in November 2024 and 6.8 “Cecil” in April 2025, focused on refining user experience and fixing bugs. With Automattic’s renewed contributions, the community anticipates accelerated development, particularly in enhancing Gutenberg’s flexibility and expanding Playground’s capabilities for browser-based WordPress testing.
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