[theme-reviewers] GPL and limiting usage

Bryan Hadaway bhadaway at gmail.com
Fri Sep 20 20:29:56 UTC 2013


*@Otto*

*Please read this very slowly as I wrote it very slowly trying to be as
accurate and concise as possible.*

Here's my understanding of the GPL as simplified as possible (for my own
sake):

If using something that is licensed under the GPL (in this case a WP
theme), your basic usage rights are protected under that license to use the
theme on as many websites as you like, for both personal and commercial use.

Any attempt at trying to limit that right *in any way* with your own
addendum would immediately render the license not GPL2/3 compatible.

Now, even if it somehow did not hurt the GPL licensed part of the theme and
added a secondary license, proprietary, or otherwise that would still cause
a WP policy issue as everything packaged in that theme must be 100% GPL
compatible.

Now, whether you agree with the above or not, these are the rules we've all
been playing by for theme developers, reviewers and the users themselves
for as long as I can remember, last 2-3 years.

Maybe we're at a crossroads, a new era where some of this needs to be
re-worked out which I can accept, so long as we at least all get on the
same page.
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