[theme-reviewers] Envato’s License Changes For The Worse

Fri Jan 25 06:12:38 UTC 2013

Maybe I wasn't clear enough, let me copy+paste+make it bold ;)

FYI: http://themeshaper.com/2013/01/24/envato-license/

P.S. *Any questions*, please *post them on ThemeShaper instead.*
I am just a messenger.

On Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 12:01 AM, Dre Armeda <dre at armeda.com> wrote:

> So awesome that the discussion should be moved to a more appropriate
> channel. From what I'm reading here, this no longer has much to do with
> theme review.
>
> Dre
>
>
>   Daniel Tara <contact at onedesigns.com>
>  January 24, 2013 9:55 PM
> I dare to differ, there's a huge difference between WP.org directory and
> ThemeForest policy: the major difference is that the WP.org requirement
> that submitted themes originates from the fact that themes are essentially
> derivatives from WordPress itself while Envato's terms are based on, well…
> nothing! They have no base for requiring a license, other than that it's
> their space and they dictate the conditions.
>
> Let me tell you what's counter-competitive and anti-trusting about
> ThemeForest: they're an almost monopoly for theme marketplaces. The only
> other player that's around is Mojo Themes and there used to be ThemeGarden
> a while ago and it got closed. But that's not the actual problem, the
> actual problem is that their position gives them a huge advantage and they
> profit from it at a maximum. An emerging developer that hasn't an
> established name in the WP community and a small list of clients has the
> option to sell on ThemeForest or going the risky way of selling on his own
> and the risk is too big and many don't take it because of the comfort. Were
> there other 10 marketplaces that were selling GPL friendly themes they
> wouldn't have afforded to make such changes to their licensing policy.
> There's your counter-competitive and anti-trusting. I rest my case.
>
> Daniel
>
>
>
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>   Japheth Thomson <japh at envato.com>
>  January 24, 2013 9:38 PM
> Hi Daniel,
>
> Envato don't dictate a seller's licensing options any more than the
> WordPress.org theme directory does. They just have a different licensing
> option, and theme authors are free to go elsewhere if they don't like
> either of those environments.
>
> You say that "By accepting Envato's new licensing conditions, they are
> essentially accepting that Envato owns their products.", however, by the
> same token making their themes 100% GPL would essentially be saying that
> anyone owns their products. They lose all control over their distribution.
>
> ThemeForest does not claim to be "an open and free" marketplace, but
> there's certainly nothing counter-competitive or anti-trusting going on
> from Envato.
>
> Cheers,
> Japh
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Japh Thomson
> WordPress Evangelist
> http://wp.envato.com
> http://twitter.com/envato
>
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>   Daniel Tara <contact at onedesigns.com>
>  January 24, 2013 9:25 PM
> In the many years in which I have been involved with the software
> development and open source community I have never seen such utter
> disrespect towards the community and ignorance towards the legal
> requirements of open source licenses and such gibberish and nonsense
> blabbered about it. Just who exactly do Envato think they to dictate a
> seller's licensing options? Only the copyright owner has the right to
> decide which licese their product uses. By accepting Envato's new licensing
> conditions, they are essentially accepting that Envato owns their products.
> I don't care that officially the authors are still the legal owners, just
> take a look at the facts: Envato dictates prices, sales commissions and
> licensing terms. They're not an open and free marketplace, they're an
> obese, rigid, dictatorial, monopolist, counter-competitive and anti
> trusting corporation that has only one aim: profit and uses only one
> weapon: market dominance. A huge boycott should be played on them and if
> there are authors who really care out there they will react to it.
>
> Rant over.
> Daniel
>
>
>
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>   Emil Uzelac <emil at themeid.com>
>  January 24, 2013 5:19 PM
> all righty good enough for me :)
>
>
>
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>   Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net>
>  January 24, 2013 5:16 PM
> Given that, under current policy, we wouldn't approve an upsell Theme for
> which the commercial version was hosted on ThemeForest: no, it doesn't
> really change anything.
>
>
>
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>
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