[theme-reviewers] Proposed criteria change for Commercially Supported GPL Themes page

[Scott Reilly]

Greetings Theme Review Team!

WordPress.org is considering a change to the criteria for commercial
theme shops to be listed on the Commercially Supported GPL Themes page
found at http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/commercial/ and we'd
appreciate your feedback.

For those that don't know, the Commercially Supported GPL Themes page
lists commercial theme shops that are 100% GPL compatible for all of
their themes. Not only that, they back their themes with an
established support channel to help users of their themes.

The criteria to be on the list are defined on that page as follows:

* Distribute 100% GPL themes, including artwork and CSS.
* Have professional support options, and optionally customization.
* The theme company's site should be complete, well-designed, up to
date, and professional looking.

Currently, there are 64 theme shops on the list.

The proposed additional criteria would be something along these lines:

* The theme company must have at least one actively maintained theme
(i.e. updated within at least the last 2 years) in the WordPress.org
Themes Directory.

We may even require an update within the last year.

A quick review of the theme shops on the list suggests that only 11
fully comply with the new requirement. 6 other shops have themes that
haven't been updated in over 2 years. (Bear in mind that if
implemented, currently listed theme shops would likely be given a
grace period to get a theme into the Directory before being removed.)

This new requirement has the benefit of having the theme shop
demonstrate the ability to develop a theme according to guidelines
that include current standards and best practices. Heretofore, the
quality of themes produced by theme shops has not been evaluated in
any form whatsoever. Granted, it doesn't guarantee quality in their
other themes, but at least they in one instance have demonstrated
competence. Additionally, the theme shop is contributing a least one
free theme back to the community. Having at least that one theme gives
people insight into their code quality and the quality of support they
provide for it.

So chime in with your thoughts on this new proposed requirement. And,
since getting themes into the Themes Directory goes through the TRT,
how you foresee this impacting the team.

Thanks!

- Scott Reilly