[theme-reviewers] GPL and limiting usage

[Srikanth Koneru]

It is not against GPL, GPL gives you legal permission to copy, distribute
and/or modify the software.
You can do all that with their plugin. (atleast pagelines say you can edit
out the restrictions)

Its not already paid for, plugin is not just $8.

I always thought this wasn't allowed as per WPORG policy, but Otto/Nacin
says it is so it is. Maybe their higher up's may overrule them and until
they do its allowed under WPORG policy.

Its not morally/ethically wrong because they are putting the pricing plan
upfront, users are buying knowing that they have to pay a monthly fee.


On Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 3:41 AM, Trent Lapinski <trent at cyberchimps.com>wrote:

> Selling people a WordPress theme is selling them a tool to build a website
> with.
>
> How would you feel if you went to Home Depot and were told you can't buy
> the hammer you need to build a bird house, you instead have to join Home
> Depots "subscription" to get access to the hammer you need to build a bird
> house, but you're only allowed to build 1 bird house with that hammer. If
> you want to build more then 1 bird house you have to pay signficnatly more
> money monthly to do so.
>
> If you finishing building your bird house and stop paying they will take
> your hammer away, and also lock you out of features from the birdhouse you
> already built and paid for.
>
> That's what PageLines is doing, and thats why this is against the GPL,
> WordPress.org Policy, and morally and ethically wrong.
>
> This has nothing to do with upgrade fees, support, or anything else. That
> has to do with limiting and crippling software that customers have already
> paid for and forcing them to continue to pay for something or else they
> lose access to the tools they need to maintain or update their website in
> the future.
>
> This is not a support service, but merely a clever way to lock users in
> forever.
>
> --Trent Lapinski
> =============
> CEO of CyberChimps Inc
>
> On Oct 9, 2013, at 3:00 PM, Bryan Hadaway <bhadaway at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Whatever the case, I feel we're actually getting much closer to all being
> at least in the same book, maybe not quite the same page yet. But, much
> closer to a reasonable and productive understanding/conclusion.
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