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WP Engine is also claiming that Mullenweg tried to "extort" them. He allegedly asked WP Engine to pay astronomical amounts of money to WordPress, or he'd go on

WP Engine is also claiming that Mullenweg tried to "extort" them. He allegedly asked WP Engine to pay astronomical amounts of money to WordPress, or he'd go on a smear campaign against them. THe demands were allegedly refused, and it seems that he has indeed started such a campaign. The claims were made in an official letter to Automattic that included proof in the form of screenshots, and that was written by a legal professional[1]. I personally think it's unlikely that an actual lawyer would risk their reputation and fabricate something like that. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41631912 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41631912

ceejayoz 2y ago
> I personally think it's unlikely that an actual lawyer would risk their reputation and fabricate something like that. The various disbarred folks from Trump’s 2020 legal team serve as a pretty effective counter example.
- fortyseven 2y ago
  "How much can I poison the well of public opinion about my high paying client and get away with it."
- chuckadams 2y ago
  Trump is notorious for not paying his lawyers, so as representation goes, he’s left with a bag of mixed nuts to say the least.
Terretta 2y ago
> He allegedly asked WP Engine to pay astronomical amounts of money to WordPress... If we use the word “astronomical” to represent a percentage of profits, what word do we use to describe the profits?
- ceejayoz 2y ago
  WP Engine asserts they demanded "a significant percentage of its gross revenues", not profits. I'm not sure we know what their margin is.
  - JimDabell 2y ago
    Matt Mullenweg confirmed: > They had the option to license the WordPress trademark for 8% of their revenue, which could be delivered either as payments, people (Five for the Future .org commitments), or any combination of the above. — https://www.reddit.com/r/Wordpress/comments/1fnz0h6/cease_desist_letter_from_wp_engine_was_made_public/lon9wsg/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Wordpress/comments/1fnz0h6/cease_de...

ceejayoz 2y ago

> I personally think it's unlikely that an actual lawyer would risk their reputation and fabricate something like that. The various disbarred folks from Trump’s 2020 legal team serve as a pretty effective counter example.

fortyseven 2y ago
"How much can I poison the well of public opinion about my high paying client and get away with it."
chuckadams 2y ago
Trump is notorious for not paying his lawyers, so as representation goes, he’s left with a bag of mixed nuts to say the least.

Terretta 2y ago

> He allegedly asked WP Engine to pay astronomical amounts of money to WordPress... If we use the word “astronomical” to represent a percentage of profits, what word do we use to describe the profits?

ceejayoz 2y ago
WP Engine asserts they demanded "a significant percentage of its gross revenues", not profits. I'm not sure we know what their margin is.
- JimDabell 2y ago
  Matt Mullenweg confirmed: > They had the option to license the WordPress trademark for 8% of their revenue, which could be delivered either as payments, people (Five for the Future .org commitments), or any combination of the above. — https://www.reddit.com/r/Wordpress/comments/1fnz0h6/cease_desist_letter_from_wp_engine_was_made_public/lon9wsg/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Wordpress/comments/1fnz0h6/cease_de...