[theme-reviewers] GPL and limiting usage

[Emil Uzelac]

Amen!


On Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 2:56 PM, Otto <otto at ottodestruct.com> wrote:

> On Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 2:45 PM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net>
> wrote:
> > So, you would imply that the WPTRT stance, for over three years, that any
> > and all usage restrictions are incompatible with GPL is incorrect?
> Because
> > that has been our operating principle all along: Themes cannot restrict
> > usage in any way.
>
> The problem code isn't in the theme. It isn't in another version of
> the theme. It's in a plugin that they sell as an add-on to the theme.
>
> WP-Ecommerce is free. Several add-ons for it are not. Why is this a
> problem?
>
>
> > If we say that this subscription model is acceptable and that it
> conforms to
> > WPORG policy, then I would view that statement as a fairly significant
> > sea-change in WPORG free-software philosophy.
>
> Not from my viewpoint. The one wanting to make the sea-change here is
> you. You're saying that we should impose new restrictions above and
> beyond those that we currently have.
>
>
> > Again: the key difference here is that 100% of the code and functionality
> > are contained within the distributed Plugin itself. The server is
> entirely
> > unnecessary to the function of the Plugin, and server API connectivity
> > exists solely to determine whether or not to disable functionality within
> > the Plugin, based on subscription status.
>
> If the code ain't hosted on .org, and you have to pay to obtain it,
> then I don't much care what the code actually does.
>
> They wrote it. If they state that it's available under the terms of
> the GPL, then those are the terms under which it is available. As far
> as I'm concerned, and by my reading of all the guidelines, it's fine.
> If somebody wants to get a copy, modify it, and release it elsewhere
> for free, well, then they can do that if it really is under the terms
> of the GPL.
>
> These types of things fix themselves. We don't need to rigorously
> enforce our personal viewpoints as to how code should behave. We *do*
> need to ensure that the terms are compatible with ours, and that the
> rights of the end user are protected. That's enough.
>
> -Otto
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