WordPress in 2025: The drama, the outlook and what it means for you

A lot has happened in the world of WordPress over the past year, and for a platform known for its stability, 2024 delivered an unexpected dose of chaos.

At the centre of it all? Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, who raised more than a few eyebrows when he publicly called WP Engine “a cancer to WordPress” during his keynote at WordCamp US in September 2024. 

For a platform that’s built a reputation on balance—carefully evolving while maintaining compatibility—this was an out-of-character move. What followed was a messy legal battle, aggressive policy changes, and a community left wondering what the future of WordPress might look like.

What happened?

The controversy started when Mullenweg accused WP Engine of profiting off WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks without contributing back to the ecosystem. Specifically, he suggested that WP Engine should be paying 8% of its gross revenue for trademark use. However, the terms around these trademarks were vague, and only after these accusations were made did Automattic amend them.

Things escalated when Mullenweg instructed Automattic employees to block WP Engine customers from updating their sites and plugins through WordPress’s built-in update mechanism. That’s right—entire sites were left unable to receive crucial updates simply because they were hosted on WP Engine.

WP Engine responded with a Cease and Desist letter and then filed a lawsuit, making public a series of heated emails where Mullenweg threatened to take a “scorched earth nuclear approach” unless WP Engine complied with his demands.

A dedicated website—wpvswpe.report—has been documenting the unfolding drama, offering a detailed timeline of events for those who want to dive deeper.

Where WordPress stands now

After WP Engine filed an injunction in a California court, things started to settle. The court ruled that WP Engine’s access to WordPress.org must be restored and that Automattic must roll back any restrictions imposed on WP Engine customers.

Despite the intense disputes, WordPress as a platform remains largely unaffected for users and developers. The software itself is protected under the GNU Public License, meaning:

• Freedom to use: Anyone can use WordPress for any purpose without restrictions.
• Freedom to study and modify: Users can examine WordPress’s source code and adjust it as needed.
• Freedom to share: Users can redistribute and share WordPress freely.

The legal battle is ongoing and could stretch into 2027 or beyond, but for now, WordPress continues as usual—albeit with a lingering sense of unease in the community.

What this means for KOTA clients

At KOTA, we’ve been building WordPress websites for as long as we’ve been around. It’s in our DNA.

Has this drama affected our work? Not one bit.

WordPress remains one of the most flexible, scalable, and future-proof CMS options available, and we’re still confidently using it as a core platform for our projects. While we were disappointed by Mullenweg’s actions, WordPress is far bigger than one person. The platform powers over 40% of the internet, and its community-driven nature ensures that it won’t be derailed by corporate infighting.

On the hosting side, we operate our own in-house hosting platform, ensuring stability and control. We have no ties to WP Engine, and for managed hosting, we partner with Kinsta, a platform that aligns with our standards for security, speed, and reliability.

Choosing the right CMS (it’s not just about WordPress)

While we build plenty of WordPress sites, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why every project starts with a CMS discovery process—an assessment to determine which platform best suits the project’s needs.

Some key factors that influence CMS selection include:

• Functional requirements – Does the project have technical needs that align with a specific CMS?
• Budget – Some CMS options come with licensing fees, while others are open-source.
• Timescales – The right CMS can streamline development, impacting project timelines.
• Regulatory and compliance needs – Some CMS options cater specifically to industries with strict security and data policies.
• Customer preference – Some clients already have a preferred CMS due to familiarity or internal policies.

At KOTA, we don’t push one solution—we analyse the requirements and recommend the best fit, whether that’s WordPress, Statamic or a headless CMS such as Storyblok. If there’s a clear winner, we’ll make a single recommendation. If there are multiple viable options, we’ll outline the pros and cons so clients can make an informed decision.

Final thoughts

The WordPress drama of 2024 may have been a shock, but it hasn’t changed the core of what makes WordPress great. The platform remains stable, open-source, and widely adopted. While the legal battle rumbles on in the background, the software itself is business as usual.

For agencies like KOTA, it’s a reminder to remain platform-agnostic, ensuring we always choose the right CMS for each project—not just the one making headlines.

If you’re considering a new website and aren’t sure which CMS is best for you, let’s chat. We’ll break down your options and find the right fit—without the drama.