This article appears to be a comprehensive report on the recent developments in the tech industry, specifically around Automattic (the company behind WordPress) and its founder Matt Mullenweg. Here’s a summary of the key points:
Automattic Exodus: 159 employees left Automattic due to disagreements with Mullenweg’s direction of the company and WordPress overall. Almost 80% of those who left worked in the Ecosystem / WordPress division.
Mullenweg’s Response: To retain employees, Mullenweg offered a severance package to anyone who would agree to leave the company. He also announced that every working Automattic employee would receive 200 A12 shares as a token of gratitude.
Judge’s Ruling: Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin set the first hearing for the primary injunction in WP Engine’s lawsuit against Mullenweg and Automattic on November 26.
WP Engine Lawsuit: The company is suing Mullenweg and Automattic, alleging that they have been trying to harm WP Engine by blocking access to WordPress.com and denying them resources. WP Engine has also accused Mullenweg of making false statements about their business.
Other Developments: Mary Hubbard, the former head of governance and experience at TikTok U.S., is joining WordPress as executive director. One engineer from WP Engine announced that they are joining Automattic.
Background: The lawsuit between WP Engine and Automattic has been ongoing for some time, with both sides making claims about each other’s actions. The situation appears to be escalating, with more employees leaving Automattic and the judge setting a date for the first hearing in the primary injunction.
