Roger Montti’s latest piece for Search Engine Journal revisits the ongoing legal saga between WP Engine and Automattic, highlighting how what seemed like a victory for Matt Mullenweg may have been premature.
In his report, Montti explains that WP Engine has filed a Second Amended Complaint after the September 2025 court order dismissed several claims but allowed them to be refiled. This new complaint restores six major counts, including antitrust and unfair competition claims, placing Automattic and Mullenweg in the legal spotlight squarely.
Montti notes that Mullenweg had previously characterized the court’s earlier decision as a “significant milestone” and claimed that the “most serious claims,” including antitrust, monopolization, and extortion, had been dismissed. However, as Montti points out, the dismissal came with leave to amend, meaning WP Engine had every right to rework and resubmit those counts.
The revised 175-page filing adds depth and specificity that the court previously found lacking. WP Engine now dedicates roughly 27 pages to defining markets, including new distinctions such as the WordPress Hosting Services and Plugin Distribution markets. Montti highlights that these refinements aim to establish Automattic’s alleged monopoly power and clarify how Mullenweg’s dual role heading Automattic and WordPress.org creates what WP Engine sees as a conflict of influence.
Montti’s reporting emphasizes that this is not yet a win for WP Engine or a loss for Automattic. Instead, the case has moved into its next phase, with Automattic required to respond to the amended allegations.
As Montti succinctly concludes, this lawsuit is “far from over.” The ball, as he puts it, “is back in play.”