[theme-reviewers] GPL and limiting usage

[Daniel]

The person who got the email with the answers from GNU are you able to
provide a screenshot of the email?

On 10/10/13, Bryan Hadaway <bhadaway at gmail.com> wrote:
> *@Chip*
>
> Sorry, but, you just did receive confirmation from the GNU (the highest
> authority on the GPL), other than that we already know WP policy:
>
> "Commercial versions of free Themes (i.e. “freemium” or “up-sell” Themes)
> are required to be released under GPL-compatible licenses"
>
> Frankly, this is insane. If this was just some nobody developer with a
> theme no one had ever heard of, it never would have been approved in the
> first place. I see themes not able to be approved or taken down for far
> more trivial things than what we're discussing.
>
> I understand you're between a rock and hard place, but this overall issue
> is just so plainly wrong
>
> *@Srikanth*
>
> Do you hear what you're saying? You're validating our points.
>
> Besides how just completely immoral and unethical that all is and anti-GPL,
> you just made reference to the proprietary kill switch via a payment/update
> API, which immediately proves that DMS Pro is not 100% GPL which requires
> immediate removal, period.
>
> *@Otto*
>
> You're referencing the exceptions/loop holes that the GNU has pointed out,
> you were correct when you first pointed those out, the GNU is correct now
> and we're still correct in the fact that we've already proven over and over
> that those exceptions do not apply here in this case.
>
> *Conclusion*
>
> There's no question that DMS should be removed, it's really quite negligent
> and stubborn to think anything else at this point.
>
> However, consider for a moment that PageLines is 100% in compliance with
> the GPL and WP policy. The only result that should have is to put in place
> more strict policy to protect the community and users because of how
> over-the-top deceptive and abusive this is to users.
>
> So, even if your argument is purely on technicality, this still needs to be
> addressed with new policy that will keep abusive behavior like this out of
> our repo. You're just wrong, period. That is overwhelmingly clear.
>


-- 
Regards,
Daniel Fenn