Tricia Fox, a small business owner in Scotland, is feeling the impact of a major dispute between two US companies that is causing chaos for businesses worldwide. The conflict between WordPress, a web publishing platform used by 40% of the world’s websites, and WP Engine, a web hosting service, has left Tricia Fox and her agency, Perthshire Picture Agency, in a state of uncertainty.
With about 70 websites under her management, Tricia Fox relies on the services provided by these two companies to keep her business running smoothly. However, the fallout from their disagreement has resulted in extra work for her staff and increased costs for her business. Tricia Fox is now considering migrating her websites to a different host, a decision that could cost her tens of thousands of pounds over the next few years.
The dispute between WordPress and WP Engine revolves around the open-source nature of WordPress.org and the alleged failure of WP Engine to contribute to the maintenance of the platform. WordPress has accused WP Engine of not upholding its end of the bargain and has banned them from using key parts of WordPress as a result.
The conflict has escalated to the point where legal action has been taken, with WP Engine filing a lawsuit against WordPress and its parent company, Automattic, alleging extortion and libel. The legal battle has added another layer of uncertainty for businesses like Tricia Fox’s, who are caught in the crossfire.
As the dispute continues to unfold, the future of businesses relying on these two companies remains uncertain. Tricia Fox’s story serves as a reminder of the ripple effect that conflicts in the tech industry can have on small businesses around the world.
