A brand new lawsuit in search of class motion standing alleges that WordPress co-creator Matt Mullenweg and Automattic engaged in unfair enterprise practices to hurt managed WordPress internet host WP Engine (WPE) and its prospects.
In accordance with the lawsuit:
“Plaintiff and the category search equitable reduction pursuant to Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17203 to finish Defendants’ wrongful practices together with requiring Defendants to stop its tortious interference with contract.”
…Plaintiff and the category additionally search an order requiring Defendants to make full restitution of all monies it obtained via its wrongful conduct, together with all different reduction permitted underneath Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200 et seq.”
The lawsuit makes a number of claims towards Mullenweg and Automattic:
- That defendants interfered with entry to WordPress assets, disrupting WPE prospects.
- Interfered with prospects’ means to handle their web sites hosted on WP Engine (WPE).
- The lawsuit claims that the actions weren’t authentic trademark enforcement efforts however a pretext for degrading WP Engine’s companies and pressuring prospects to depart.
- The grievance additionally accuses the defendants of monopolistic habits, alleging that they wielded management over the WordPress ecosystem for monetary achieve, harming WPE prospects.
In accordance with the authorized submitting:
“Defendants intentionally wielded their energy over the WordPress.org web site like a cudgel, not solely blocking entry to the web site however stealing assets just like the ACF plugin, forcing guests to click on a checkbox asserting they aren’t related to WPE, publishing WPE buyer web site addresses in an try and strain prospects to depart WPE, and repeatedly threatening future penalties together with the chance of further service disruptions for sophistication members who didn’t go away WPE. “
Why the Lawsuit Seeks Class Motion Standing
The authorized submitting asserts that the lawsuit qualifies for sophistication motion certification primarily based on allegations that Mullenweg and Automattic engaged in conduct that harmed not simply the plaintiff however a broader group of WP Engine (WPE) prospects. The plaintiff contends that the defendants’ actions, together with interfering with WPE’s companies, blocking entry to important WordPress instruments, disrupting and degrading service, and pressuring prospects to depart WPE, resulted in hurt that, in response to the lawsuit, meets the standards for sophistication certification underneath Rule 23. The lawsuit claims that WPE prospects confronted service disruptions, monetary losses, and potential safety dangers.
The justification for the category motion is printed in paragraph 58 of the lawsuit:
“Plaintiff brings this motion as a category motion pursuant to Guidelines 23(a) and 23(b)(1)-(3) of the Federal Guidelines of Civil Process, on behalf of himself, his enterprise and a Nationwide Class outlined as:
All individuals in the US who had ongoing energetic WPE WordPress Internet Internet hosting Plans on or earlier than September 24, 2024 via December 10, 2024.”
The authorized submitting asserts that quite a few public statements and courtroom information, together with filings associated to WP Engine, help the allegation that the defendants induced hurt to the plaintiff and the alleged class. It then particulars the plaintiff’s private experiences as additional proof of the alleged hurt.
Part III, ‘Plaintiff’s Experiences,’ outlines how the defendant’s actions harmed the plaintiff, Keller, together with:
- Service Disruptions
- Enterprise and Monetary Affect
- Private Web site Affect
- Safety Dangers
- Buyer Relationship Considerations
- Consideration of Various Internet hosting
The authorized submitting particulars the next:
“Defendants’ interference considerably impacted the enterprise of Plaintiff Keller. Whereas Plaintiff Keller was proud of WPE companies and meant to proceed utilizing WPE companies, the service disruption and degraded service, coupled with repeated public statements and threats made by Defendants, led Plaintiff to discover shifting his web site and all these operated by his enterprise to a different managed internet host.
Plaintiff’s livelihood revolves round constructing and working web sites, and vital disruptions will influence his enterprise together with his personal capability to meet his contractual obligations to his personal purchasers.
Plaintiff Keller’s web sites had been considerably impacted by outages regardless of WPE’s makes an attempt to create workarounds.
Plaintiff Keller has needed to spend vital time and expense responding to the service disruptions and degradations, getting ready for shifting his and his purchasers’ web sites to a brand new host, and in investigating a brand new host atmosphere after an extended and profitable prior partnership with WPE. He’s not alone within the hurt he has suffered.
Plaintiff Keller’s private web site was additionally considerably impacted. Entry to the WordPress backend was accessible intermittently, and Plaintiff Keller obtained emails associated to this downtime.
Plaintiff Keller pays WPE $3,300 per 12 months for its “Scale Plan,” 2 further web sites, and GeoTargeting and Multi-Web site companies. As a consequence of Defendants’ actions, Plaintiff Keller was unable to replace his web site in an ordinary advertising and marketing cycle adjustment. Plaintiff Keller needed to spend time and expense to handle, replace, and modify his web site because of Defendants chopping off WPE
from the WordPress ecosystem and subsequently, didn’t obtain the good thing about his discount with WPE as Plaintiff Keller needed to do the work that he pays WPE for.”
A New Section In Dispute Between Mullenweg/Automattic And WPE
This class motion lawsuit is a brand new part within the dispute between Mullenweg, Automattic and WP Engine. It expands the authorized battle to incorporate claims from particular person prospects. With allegations of unfair competitors, monopolistic habits, and deliberate service disruptions, the category motion lawsuit provides one other layer to a dispute that has led some within the WordPress group to name for a change in governance to the WordPress open supply venture.
Learn the textual content of the lawsuit right here: (PDF)
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