Do you know WP Engine banned from WordPress.org?

WP Engine, the leading WordPress hosting company, has been banned from WordPress.org. It means WP Engine hosted sites can not access, updates and install new free WordPress plugins, themes, patterns, and blocks. WordPress.org banned WP Engine amidst the ongoing legal battle between WP Engine and WordPress.org.

The ban implies that WP Engine users will not receive automatic updates on any free WordPress plugins or themes, including those regarding even the most important functionalities related to security patches and features. It impacts each of the free plugins and free themes used on WordPress.org, so thousands of website owners who rely on WP Engine for hosting services will be affected by this restriction.

We’ve sent a cease-and-desist letter to WP Engine for the unauthorized trademark usage of the WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks. They need to stop and make it right.

You can read the full letter here: https://t.co/tRQJPWdqG3
— Automattic (@automattic) September 25, 2024

Automattic plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of the WordPress software and community. It works closely with the open-source WordPress.org project, which is separate from the commercial services provided by WordPress.com.

Automattic, under Matt Mullenweg’s leadership, has stated that the dispute with WP Engine revolves around licensing and intellectual property concerns. They emphasized the importance of adhering to the General Public License (GPL), which ensures that WordPress remains a free and open-source platform.

WP Engine is not WordPress: https://t.co/0Ybw61h2Rm
— Matt Mullenweg (@photomatt) September 22, 2024

Matt Mullenweg is the co-founder of WordPress, one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world. He also serves as the CEO of Automattic, the company he founded in 2005 to offer services and products related to WordPress. Automattic is responsible for various WordPress-related offerings, including WordPress.com, Jetpack, and WooCommerce.

Implication on WP Engine Users

WP Engine banned from WordPress.org. This means users no longer enjoy the convenience of getting automatic updates. The ban has created concerns among developers of plugins and members of the WordPress community, worrying that many website owners would be jeopardized if they failed to update their plugins manually.

This has caused mass chatter in the social media by people who are angry at what may happen because of the ban, concerning website security and website performance. Website owners are encouraged to take quick actions regarding their plugin upgrades manually so that they will keep their sites safe and effective.

Manual Plugin Update

At least for now, while the ban is underway, WP Engine users can manually update their plugins and themes using the traditional way of procedure. WordPress has put up an extensive tutorial on how one can perform the manual update. The people who are unfamiliar with the procedure simply need to download the latest version of the plugin or theme from WordPress.org and upload it either through the dashboard of WordPress or via FTP.

To update your WordPress plugins manually

Download the fresh version of the plugin directly from WordPress.org

Click on your WordPress Dashboard

Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin

Upload the zip file for your plugin and click Install Now & Activate the newly installed plugin when prompted to do so.

So far, there is no word as yet on the legal dispute between WP Engine and WordPress.org. Until the dispute is finally settled, manage your websites by finding information through official WordPress channels and prepare for such a possibility.

For additional information, you may read the full announcement at the official WordPress News site. Follow the below link