A sizzling potato: In a current interview, Matt Mullenweg commented on the way forward for Automattic. Going through requires him to step down, he mentioned he wouldn’t resign. Mullenweg even doubled down, saying that when he retires, he’ll discover a successor who shares his values and would run the corporate as he would.
Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, has referred to as out WP Engine for benefiting from WordPress’s open-source mannequin with out contributing sufficient to the venture. WP Engine, constructed on WordPress, argues it is absolutely compliant with the GPL, which allows business use with out requiring monetary contributions.
Throughout an interview with Lenny’s Podcast, Mullenweg strengthened his stance that open-source initiatives thrive when those that revenue from them reinvest of their growth. He additionally briefly mentioned the way forward for WordPress and Automattic, emphasizing his choice for sturdy, centralized management somewhat than decision-making by committee.
“If or once I’m gone, I do not wish to go it to a committee,” Mullenweg mentioned. “I wish to go it to another person who may have a job much like mine, and actually form of attempt to be a steward.”
He additionally expressed the assumption that CEOs must be deeply invested of their corporations, ideally holding majority voting management. He in contrast his position to that of a mayor overseeing a metropolis, emphasizing the necessity for a frontrunner to be personally and instantly concerned in guiding the group.
“There finally is a examine and steadiness on [stewardship] as a result of, once more, the neighborhood may go away – they may fork the software program, folks may change…” he defined. “[The role is] much more like being a mayor than a CEO.”
His remarks come amid rising criticism of his dealing with of the WP Engine dispute. Some have accused Mullenweg of utilizing undue affect to strain WP Engine into paying for its use of WordPress, actions that critics argue contradict the spirit of free and open-source software program (FOSS). WP Engine has maintained that it has no authorized obligation to assist WordPress financially and that any contributions to open-source initiatives must be voluntary somewhat than coerced. It contends that Mullenweg is doing extra to harm FOSS growth.
The fallout has led to a class-action lawsuit in opposition to Automattic over accusations of unfair enterprise practices round WordPress governance. There’s additionally a web-based petition calling for Mullenweg’s resignation, although it is unclear how a lot assist it is really getting. Even with all this strain, Mullenweg has made it clear he is not stepping down.
Business consultants are break up on this. Some say WP Engine advantages from WordPress with out giving again, which may damage the platform’s future. Others assume Mullenweg is pushing too laborious for funds that the GPL does not require. From a authorized standpoint, WP Engine is not doing something unsuitable, however the debate goes past legality. It is about whether or not corporations benefiting from open-source software program owe it to the neighborhood to contribute.
Mullenweg is not budging, and WP Engine is not backing down, leaving each side locked in a standoff. It is unclear whether or not authorized motion or neighborhood strain will tip the scales, however the debate raises an even bigger query: What do corporations that revenue from open-source software program owe the initiatives they depend on?