WP Engine files a lawsuit in California against Automattic and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, accusing them of extortion and abuse of power (Ivan Mehta/TechCrunch)

Mediagazer: WP Engine files a lawsuit in California against Automattic and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, accusing them of extortion, abuse of power, and greed (Ivan Mehta/TechCrunch)

Top News:

TechCrunch:

WP Engine files a lawsuit in California against Automattic and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, accusing them of extortion, abuse of power, and greed— Hosting provider WP Engine has filed a lawsuit against Automattic and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, accusing them of extortion and abuse of power.
Discussion: @cowkitty, @jeffr0, @zimm3rmann, @ryancduff, @ctrlaltdwayne, @dwlz, @ryancduff, @bgardner, WP Engine, @automattic, Automattic, @wpengine and The Register, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:
@cowkitty: According to @wpengine's filing, they shared proof that Matt Mullenweg made an unrequested job offer to WPE's CEO to join Automattic & then threatened to tell the press + WPE's investor that she had interviewed at Automattic (when she hadn't) if she declined the offer #wordpress [image]

Jeff /
@jeffr0: They should get an Ohio Supreme Court judge for the WP Engine vs Automattic case for maximum dumbassery [image]

Michael Zimmermann /
@zimm3rmann: @wpengine Oh man, when a jury sees those text messages 😂

Ryan Duff /
@ryancduff: @wpengine ... I'm only through two pages of the introduction and the Quinn Emanuel attorneys are returning Matt's “scorched earth” favor. No holds barred 😳🫣

Dwayne /
@ctrlaltdwayne: Holy moly. I just read through the WP Engine vs. Automattic filing, and oh boy. I think Matt might of bitten off more than he can chew here. - WP Engine are arguing nominative fair use over using terms like WordPress and Woocommerce (which we already knew) - Matt deceived the

Dan Loewenherz /
@dwlz: In perhaps the most predictable reaction you can imagine to this manufactured WordPress drama, WP Engine just filed a defamation suit against Automattic and Mullenweg. The only winners here are the attorneys. And I bet the defendants settle. https://wpengine.com/...

Ryan Duff /
@ryancduff: @wpengine ... This complaint is filled with days of material Matt provided while running his mouth, because he thought he was right and his “lawyers” told him to “go for it” Like... they're citing slack messages, 𝕏 posts, podcasts, interviews. The whole gambit. haha

Ryan Duff /
@ryancduff: OH NO BABY WHAT IS YOU DOIN Why is @photomatt over on HackerNews defending himself in the comments on the post about the WPEngine v Automattic lawsuit? What is happening? This is so wild 🤣😭 PLEASE MAKE IT STOP https://news.ycombinator.com/ ... [image]

Brian Gardner /
@bgardner: Here's our latest update (@wpengine) with information the #WordPress community needs to know. We have spoken our truth, and we will not be silent. Please read the details (PDF) in the post below. 👇 @automattic: Our associate general counsel explains how and why both Automattic and the WordPress Foundation own the WordPress trademarks. Read more in our latest post. https://automattic.com/... @wpengine: Matt Mullenweg and Automattic's self-proclaimed scorched earth campaign against WP Engine has harmed not just our company, but the entire WordPress ecosystem. The symbiotic relationship between WordPress, its community and the businesses that invest millions to support WordPress

Thomas Claburn /
The Register: Latest in WordPress war: Automattic says it wanted 8% cut of WP Engine revenue

RELATED:

The Verge:
Automattic demanded an 8% cut of WP Engine's monthly revenue to use the WordPress trademark in a seven-year deal proposed on September 20; WP Engine declined

Discussion:
@j12t@j12t.social and Automattic, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Johannes Ernst /
@j12t@j12t.social: It's clear that #opensource as a model is going through some business model challenges, particularly for application-level software like #wordpress. — I'm somewhat conflicted about how Automattic is going about it, though. Should very capitalist large resellers be forced to contribute? …

Bloomberg:

YouTube channel Dude Perfect hires former NBA executive Andrew Yaffe as CEO; Yaffe had been the NBA's head of social, digital, and original content— - Ex-NBA executive Andrew Yaffe to lead digital media company — The channel has more than 60 million followers on YouTube

Discussion:

Lucas Shaw /
Lucas Shaw on LinkedIn: Fresh off raising more than $100 million, Dude Perfect had hired a new CEO: NBA executive Andrew Yaffe. …

Andrew Yaffe /
Andrew Yaffe on LinkedIn: I am so excited to join Dude Perfect as its first-ever CEO. What they've built over the last 15 years is an unbelievable platform …

Jason Illian /
Jason Illian on LinkedIn: And so it begins...

Todd Spangler /
Variety: YouTube's Dude Perfect Taps NBA Exec Andrew Yaffe as CEO

Chad Coleman /
Chad Coleman on LinkedIn: Big time! Welcome to the crew, Andrew 🚀

Dan Primack /
@danprimack: Andrew Yaffe has spent the last decade expanding the audience for the NBA across digital and social platforms. Now he's tackling a company with an even larger online fan base on YouTube: Dude Perfect. https://www.bloomberg.com/...

Kevin Eck /
Adweek: Layoffs Reported at ABC Stations

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: Disney to Combine Hulu, ABC's Scripted Drama and Comedy Teams Under Simran Sethi

Variety:

WBD and All Elite Wrestling sign a multiyear deal, sources say worth $150M+ per year; AEW shows remain on TBS and TNT and stream live on Max in the US in 2025— All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has officially signed a new multi-year multimedia rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Discussion:
Barrett Media: Warner Bros. Discovery, AEW Agree to New Multiyear Contract Which Includes TNT, TBS and Max

Joseph Staszewski /
New York Post: AEW's new TV rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery comes with intriguing Max twist

Bennett Wolin /
Bennett Wolin on LinkedIn: Five years ago, I was part of the team that launched a new wrestling league (AEW) on TNT. Today, we celebrate the anniversary of our first show on the network. …

Mark Caplan /
Mark Caplan on LinkedIn: Excited for the company to finally be able to announce! — WBD Networks to Continue to Be Home to Fan-Favorites AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision …

Dade Hayes /
Deadline: Warner Bros. Discovery And All Elite Wrestling Reach Multi-Year Renewal, Shoring Up TNT And TBS Lineups And Adding Max Simulcasts

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: Warner Bros. Discovery Strikes Multi-Year Renewal With All Elite Wrestling

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery Ink New Rights Deal, Including Pay-Per-View Events on Max

Hannah Miller /
Bloomberg: Warner Bros., AEW Wrestling Deal Includes Max Streaming

New York Times:

Diamond Sports Group, which is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, says in 2025 it will stop carrying all but one of the 12 MLB teams it now televises— Embattled broadcaster Diamond Sports Group says in 2025 it will stop carrying all but one of the 12 MLB teams it now televises …

Discussion:

Michael Lange /
Michael Lange on LinkedIn: Well...this escalated quickly. — Surprise attack, then renegotiate lower rights fees? — I'm sure Evan Shapīro will have some thoughts. …

Daniel Kaplan /
Awful Announcing: Bally Sports rejects all of its MLB team contracts, except for Atlanta Braves

Matthew Keys /
TVNewsCheck: Diamond Sports To Drop Most MLB TV Deals

Anthony Crupi /
Sportico: Diamond Sports Group Plans to Drop All MLB Teams Except Braves

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Diamond Sports to drop most Major League Baseball TV deals

Vince Tuss /
@vtuss: MLB sandbagged by a broadcaster? Quelle surprise ...

Joel Luckhaupt /
@jluckhaupt.bsky.social: Welp. Looks like we'll probably have a different sports book name next year on the Reds broadcast or something. [embedded post]

John Finn /
Streaming Better: Bally Sports Set To Drop All Remaining MLB Teams Except Atlanta Braves

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: Bally Sports Will Drop TV Rights to 11 MLB Teams As Its Bankruptcy Continues

Anthony Crupi /
@crupicrupicrupi: Diamond Sports counsel tells the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas that it plans to drop nearly all of its remaining MLB contracts, with a plan to retain only the Atlanta Braves.

Matthew Keys /
@matthewkeyslive: Diamond Sports Group plans to drop all Major League Baseball telecast agreements, except for its contract with the Atlanta Braves. https://thedesk.net/... @2xaught7.bsky.social: And there it is, Cardinals fans: no more Bally's for your club. Only the Braves will remain on the DIamond Sports entity. [embedded post]

Jason Collette /
@jasoncollette.bsky.social: If you thought last winter's free agency market was slow and boring, this winter shall be a blast as 11 teams look to recalibrate their tv revenue stream [embedded post]

Tubefilter:

Twitch includes raids, which let streamers who are going offline to send viewers to other channels, in its average viewer count, easing the path to make partner— Twitch's path to partnership is not an easy one. Any streamer who wants to become an official partner of the platform has to meet …

Discussion:
The Mozilla Blog, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Juwan J. Holmes /
The Mozilla Blog: How to protect your privacy online like a Twitch streamer

Press Association:

The BBC cancels a planned interview with Boris Johnson after news presenter Laura Kuenssberg accidentally sent the former UK prime minister her briefing notes— Presenter Laura Kuenssberg says ‘embarrassing and disappointing’ mishap meant it was not right that the interview go ahead

Discussion:
@bbclaurak and Telegraph

Discussion:

Laura Kuenssberg /
@bbclaurak: While prepping to interview Boris Johnson tomorrow, by mistake I sent our briefing notes to him in a message meant for my team. That obviously means it's not right for the interview to go ahead. It's very frustrating, and there's no point pretending it's anything other than

Poynter:

Journalists in western North Carolina hustled to cover Hurricane Helene's aftermath with sparse internet access, and radio broadcasts became crucial connectors— Local journalists are working to reach isolated communities to fill in information gaps — while dealing with damage in their own lives

Discussion:
The Asheville Citizen Times, @solomonlexib, @amariscastillo, @cislmunc, @poynter, Poynter, @poynter, The Urban News, @poynter, @ellekehres, Radio World, NewsLab, NPR and Asheville Watchdog

Discussion:
The Asheville Citizen Times: Sign up for text message updates and crucial information in Hurricane Helene's aftermath

Lexi Solomon /
@solomonlexib: So insanely proud of these folks. Shoutout @BlueRidgePublic @asheville @AvlWatchdog and the many others doing this very important work while going through trauma themselves. https://www.poynter.org/...

Amaris Castillo /
@amariscastillo: Local journalists are working to reach isolated communities to fill in information gaps — while dealing with damage in their own lives from Hurricane Helene. Reporting by my colleague, Angela Fu: https://www.poynter.org/... @cislmunc: 🗣️ “We feel like it's our job as a public service to make sure that folks have that information.” — @LillyKnoepp After Hurricane Helene hit Western NC, local reporters are working to meet their communities' info needs, despite limited power and Wi-Fi. https://www.poynter.org/... @poynter: 2/ Radio has been vital in the wake of communications outages. Poynter faculty member Tony Elkins said he lost power early Friday. He recalled going radio signal by radio signal on Saturday, just trying to pick up anything he could until he found people talking about the storm.

Amaris Castillo /
Poynter: A photojournalist reported on dozens of hurricanes over the years. Then Hurricane Helene flooded his home.

@poynter:
1/ When Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, already isolated communities became information black holes. Local journalists have been a lifeline, working through widespread outages and collapsed infrastructure to fill information gaps. https://www.poynter.org/...

@poynter:
3/ @angelanfu spoke with Elkins, a reporter from @BlueRidgePublic, and the managing editor of the nonprofit @avlwatchdog. Read the story: https://www.poynter.org/...

Elle Kehres /
@ellekehres: I published a commentary for @radioworld_news about the impact of #HurricaneHelene on North Carolinians, and how local radio broadcasters continue to offer their communities a lifeline in times of crisis. When all else fails, radio is there. #NCStrong https://www.radioworld.com/... NewsLab: Through widespread outages and collapsed infrastructure, North Carolina journalists hustle to cover Helene's aftermath

Steve Harrison /
NPR: Hurricane Helene upends election planning in some parts of North Carolina

Keith Campbell /
Asheville Watchdog: City of Asheville's updates on Helene's aftermath

Wired:

Q&A with Bobbi Althoff about The Really Good Podcast, her rise to fame as part of “Mommy TikTok”, chaos after her Drake interview, brand deals, and more— From Mommy TikTok to that Drake interview and beyond, the podcast host is proof you can brute-force your way to online fame …

Discussion:
WIRED on LinkedIn, Vanity Fair, Simon Owens on LinkedIn, @katiedrumm and @laurengoode@threads.net

Discussion:
WIRED on LinkedIn: From Mommy #TikTok to that #Drake interview and beyond, Bobbi Althoff, podcast host of ‘The Really Good Podcast’, is proof you can brute-force …

Arimeta Diop /
Vanity Fair: Bobbi Althoff Talks Divorce and Big Influencer Money—and a Little Bit of Drake

Simon Owens /
Simon Owens on LinkedIn: This is interview is a great case study on how to capitalize on viral moments: Bobbie Althoff was able to leverage some early success on TikTok …

Katie Drummond /
@katiedrumm: I talked to Bobbi Althoff about her rise to fame and fortune, dealing with trolls, her love of @WIRED, and what comes next. My biggest takeaways? Althoff is much sweeter, smarter, and more driven than her online persona would have you believe. https://www.wired.com/...

The Hollywood Reporter:

Nielsen: the vice presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz drew 43.15M US viewers across 15 networks, down 25.5% from the 2020 vice presidential debate— Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz faced off in the CBS News-produced debate. — The lone debate between …

Discussion:
CNN, Politico, The Hill, Axios, New York Post, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Bloomberg, DNyuz, CNN, The Wrap, Deadline, Variety, Media Play News and Mediaite

Discussion:

Kierra Frazier /
Politico: Vance-Walz was no Super Bowl. More like an NFL playoff game in audience terms.

Ashleigh Fields /
The Hill: Vance-Walz debate draws 43 million viewers

Sara Fischer /
Axios: VP debate draws over 43 million viewers, down 25% from 2020

Josh Christenson /
New York Post: More than 43 million tuned in to JD Vance-Tim Walz vice presidential debate

Stephen Battaglio /
Los Angeles Times: Walz-Vance debate draws 43.1 million viewers, down from 2020 VP matchup

Molly Bohannon /
Forbes: 43 Million People Watched Vice Presidential Debate On TV

Christopher Palmeri /
Bloomberg: Vance-Walz Debate Draws 43 Million Viewers, Below 2020 Level

Ted Johnson /
Deadline: JD Vance-Tim Walz VP Debate Draws Just Over 43 Million Viewers, Far Short Of 2020 Audience -Update

Michael Schneider /
Variety: Vance-Walz Debate Draws 43.2 Million Viewers, Down 25% From 2020 VP Faceoff

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: Nielsen: 43.1 Million Viewers Watched Vance-Walz Vice Presidential Debate, Down 25% From 2020

Business Insider:

Q&A with Matthew Yglesias about leaving Vox, launching his own Substack, and more; Yglesias says Slow Boring has ~18,000 subscribers paying ~$80 per year— - Matthew Yglesias, a prolific political writer, co-founded Vox in 2014. Six years later, he left to run his own Substack newsletter.

Discussion:

Peter Kafka /
@pkafka@threads.net: Not sure about “has to” happen. A great thing about the internet is that it's really good about connecting people passionate about their niche. And there are still free/affordable options for generalists. I think the two can coexist quite nicely. Also don't know you put it back in the bottle: how do convince matt to forgoe that revenue? …

Renee DiResta /
@renee.diresta@threads.net: “There's an incredible niche-ification of media writ large. And this is kind of an example of that — that by unbundling, a certain number of us have been able to unlock a lot of economic value. And now some people like Bari Weiss are re-bundling.” …

Peter Kafka /
@pkafka: Two versions of my chat with @mattyglesias: Here's an excerpt about running a small, lucrative ($1.4mm) business on substack: https://www.businessinsider.com/ ...

Peter Kafka /
@pkafka: And here's the whole megillah, where we talk about being a policy person in Trump times, why everyone hates the media, and the age-old Big Media Reach vs Substack $ question. https://podcasts.apple.com/...

Peter Kafka /
@pkafka@threads.net: I pay for a couple news subscriptions - substack or otherwise - and my employer pays for a few more. I'm lucky - and it's also my job to consume this stuff. But I think it's wrong to lump matt and most substackers in the “news” category. I think for most people it's something they feel passionate about, for better and for worse. …

Renee DiResta /
@renee.diresta@threads.net: There will be some superstars, obviously, and if it's working for Matt, he can keep right on going. But how many Substacks do you currently pay for? What's your monthly news budget? Are you paying for news or commentary?

Manuel Roig-Franzia /
Washington Post: Technology columnist Taylor Lorenz leaves The Washington Post

MediaPost:

Sources: ad-tech startup Hudson MX, controlled by UK holding company Ascential, discontinues operations; Ascential had been trying to find a buyer for Hudson MX— Editor's Note: An initial version of this story incorrectly reported that Comcast's FreeWheel division had acquired certain assets …

New York Times:

Q&A with The New York Times media reporter Ben Mullin about building relationships with sources, challenges of the media beat, social media, and more— To report on the business of media, the journalist Ben Mullin says he is “endlessly curious” about the people populating his own industry.

Discussion: