mind reader

ML SummaryMatt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic and co-creator of WordPress, has deactivated the accounts of several contributors over alleged plans to fork the WordPress project. Tensions escalated following Mullenweg's public criticism of WP Engine for its profit-driven practices, which led to a lawsuit and a court order for WP Engine to regain access to WordPress resources. Key figures in the WordPress community, like Joost de Valk and Karim Marucchi, have proposed ideas for a new direction for WordPress, including the concept of federated repositories, but they clarified they are not planning a fork. Mullenweg, however, has expressed a willingness to support alternative leadership models and encouraged those interested to join WP Engine's efforts. He also deactivated accounts of other contributors, including Sé Reed and Heather Burns, who have previously voiced concerns about WordPress governance. The deactivation prevents these individuals from contributing to WordPress, although the code remains accessible on GitHub for anyone wishing to fork it. Mullenweg humorously suggested naming any new fork "JKPress" and expressed curiosity about the ideas proposed by de Valk and Marucchi. This situation highlights ongoing governance and community dynamics within the WordPress ecosystem.