wordpress free theme using question

invincible · Jan 30, 2010

I found a nice free wp theme at wordpress.org. Then I installed this theme. In the footer I have the link of the theme author. Do I have a permission to remove this link or I have to keep it? Please advise me. Thanks in advance.

copper · Jan 30, 2010

For most (almost all) free themes, it is required to keep the link on the footer.

Sterling · Jan 30, 2010

copper said:
For most (almost all) free themes, it is required to keep the link on the footer.

That, and it's just common courtesy.

Honan · Jan 30, 2010

invincible said:
I found a nice free wp theme at wordpress.org. Then I installed this theme. In the footer I have the link of the theme author. Do I have a permission to remove this link or I have to keep it? Please advise me. Thanks in advance.

Yes, you can remove the link to the theme author
See http://wordpress.org/support/topic/250248

kspd · Jan 30, 2010

If the author accepts donations I will send one with a note thanking them. Even if it is $5 they are usually happy and will not care if you remove the link.
Removing it and not sending anything in return is pretty rude.

If you want to remove it for SEO reasons, you can always just do rel="nofollow"

petrosc · Jan 31, 2010

I Sold Grandma said:
Yes, you can remove the link to the theme author
See http://wordpress.org/support/topic/250248

good to know, thanks

dominator · Feb 1, 2010

i do not think that this discussion thread explains anything or has any authority (just regular folks talking)

by using the theme, you accept the license, and the license usually does not allow it

Honan · Feb 1, 2010

dominator said:
i do not think that this discussion thread explains anything or has any authority (just regular folks talking)

by using the theme, you accept the license, and the license usually does not allow it

Did you read http://wordpress.org/support/topic/250248 ?

Including
"You can do whatever you want to a theme so long as it's being used by your WordPress installation. Once it's plugged into Wordpress it now falls under the same GPL licensing restrictions. Most theme authors aren't even aware of this, but that doesn't make it not so.."

dominator · Feb 1, 2010

I Sold Grandma said:
Did you read http://wordpress.org/support/topic/250248 ?

Including
"You can do whatever you want to a theme so long as it's being used by your WordPress installation. Once it's plugged into Wordpress it now falls under the same GPL licensing restrictions. Most theme authors aren't even aware of this, but that doesn't make it not so.."

who said that?

supreme court?

Honan · Feb 1, 2010

dominator said:
who said that?

supreme court?

Sorry, I am not familiar with the justice system of the USA
I believe the GPL restrictions are enforcable by law

dominator · Feb 1, 2010

I Sold Grandma said:
Sorry, I am not familiar with the justice system of the USA
I believe the GPL restrictions are enforcable by law

forget about the supreme court
(that was only an ironic remark)

just answer my question: who said that?

Honan · Feb 1, 2010

dominator said:
forget about the supreme court
(that was only an ironic remark)

just answer my question: who said that?

Thanks, I don't take orders, without a deposit first
Here is a link to Matt, the founder of wordpress, saying a theme is subject to a GPL compatible licence
http://wordpress.org/support/topic/113358?replies=22#post-543507

draggar · Feb 1, 2010

Sterling said:
That, and it's just common courtesy.

I agree. How would you like it if you made something really nice and made it available but then they took out your information?

Even if it's not against the policies, it's polite and I'm sure they apreciate the back links.

dominator · Feb 1, 2010

I Sold Grandma said:
Thanks, I don't take orders, without a deposit first
Here is a link to Matt, the founder of wordpress, saying a theme is subject to a GPL compatible licence
http://wordpress.org/support/topic/113358?replies=22#post-543507

why cannot you show me the official statement instead of a hidden sentence in some discussion?

it is only one interpretation
a theme is not only a software but also a design

Honan · Feb 1, 2010

dominator said:
why cannot you show me the official statement instead of a hidden sentence in some discussion?

it is only one interpretation
a theme is not only a software but also a design

Here is the official statement

http://wordpress.org/about/gpl/

Enjoy!

dominator · Feb 1, 2010

I Sold Grandma said:
Here is the official statement

http://wordpress.org/about/gpl/

i have seen it before

but it does not contain the sentences quoted earlier

Honan · Feb 2, 2010

dominator said:
i have seen it before

but it does not contain the sentences quoted earlier

http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/ has over 1000 free WP themes that include a GPL compatible license, in that they do not restrict the freedom of the user to use the themes in any way.
And at http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/commercial/ you can see links to paid WP themes that also do not restrict the freedom of the user to use any in way they wish. ( except for denying freedoms included in the GPL license )
"What they all have in common is people behind them who support open source, WordPress, and its GPL license."

Now you post the URL of just one wordpress theme that restricts the right of the user to change anything they want to
Just one!

dominator · Feb 2, 2010

it is all only your personal opinion (interpretation)
i respect it, but i do not agree

it is useless to discuss it further
let us do some domaining instead

Honan · Feb 2, 2010

Yes it appears it has been a complete waste of my time trying to explain why removing an authors link in a wp theme is allowed
I agree that it may be less than polite