[theme-reviewers] Pagelines Themes: Theme URI

[Chip Bennett]

On Wed, Oct 6, 2010 at 1:20 PM, Otto <otto at ottodestruct.com> wrote:

> On Wed, Oct 6, 2010 at 12:46 PM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net>
> wrote:
> > It's not that the pro versions are not GPL-compatible; rather, it is that
> > the Theme Repository is being used to push users to the pro versions.
>
> Mmmm... I'm a bit torn on this one.
>
> On one hand, I say that if they link to a page about the theme, then
> it's okay to try to upsell people in order to get paid support for the
> theme. Time is money, and somebody asking for money to provide support
> strikes me as perfectly valid.
>

Absolutely.

>
> On the other hand, he appears to be trying to sell the themes
> themselves here instead of selling support. It's also possible that
> the Pro version has extra features or something along those lines.
>
> This difference can be a fine line. Your call, and in this particular
> instance I totally agree. But I'd say that we need to be careful to
> distinguish between upsells and support sales. Selling service and/or
> support, even for a free theme, is reasonable to me.
>
> Just my 2 cents.


Agreed - it's a fine line. And the fine line is the reason I brought it up
in the first place.

Perhaps I need a re-calibration, but this instance appears to be crossing
that line - primarily with respect to the Theme URI tag being accurate.
IMHO, it's not.

I don't think it's splitting hairs (though of course I could be wrong) to
say that it is acceptable to have Author URI point to the PageLines website,
but not allow Theme URI point to the pro (paid) version of the Theme.

I also don't want to set a bad precedent, and have this type of thing become
more prevalent. While trying to garner paid support/client business through
the release of free Themes (or Plugins) is perfectly fine, it is another
thing entirely to release a Free Theme (or Plugin) for the *sole purpose* of
attempting to get users to purchase the pro (paid) version.

Chip
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