[theme-reviewers] GPL-Compatibility

Thu Jun 5 13:02:10 UTC 2014

Explicit declaration has been required for quite some time. The latest
Guidelines revisions now require that explicit declaration to be included
in the Theme readme file, or a license file.

With explicit declaration, there is not need for reviewers to verify every
single source, as long as you recognize and understand the terms of the
license being declared.

On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 8:51 AM, Stephen Cui <scui2005 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I understand the screenshots are already policed and GPL applies to
> whole.theme. This is very clear. The question are:
>
> - if we require theme authors to explicitly declare the source and licence
> for every single image (including images used in screenshot).
> - if the reviewer has to verify every single source.
>
> If this is the case, many (if not most) themes fail this criteria.
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 8:45 AM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net> wrote:
>
>> The Guidelines already state "100% GPL" for *everything* bundled with the
>> Theme. I'm not sure how much clearer or more explicit they can be?
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 8:33 AM, rose tail <metallicarosetail at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Yes exactly setting the new guideline is the best way for reviewer
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 6:16 PM, Stephen Cui <scui2005 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Are we going to police the screenshot? I feel that we may went too far
>>>> for reviewer. If this is the case, we will have to set the guideline for
>>>> reviewers.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 8:11 AM, Srikanth Koneru <tskk79 at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> so many themes were approved with unsplash and pixabay images, have to
>>>>> watch the #1 queue carefully
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 5:32 PM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Pixabay appears to be a site where copyright holders upload their
>>>>>> images, and upon upload, Pixabay says, "by uploading, you agree to
>>>>>> distribute your pictures under the terms we specify".
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So, if the images are Public Domain outside of/prior to uploading to
>>>>>> Pixabay, then they remain Public Domain. But if the images are only CC0
>>>>>> because of the act of uploading to Pixabay, then they would be under the
>>>>>> *actual* terms of the site. And those *actual* terms impose
>>>>>> non-GPL-compatible restrictions.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So again: you have to go back to the license specified by the
>>>>>> copyright holder.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 7:53 AM, Srikanth Koneru <tskk79 at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> But sometime back, you said the CC0 mentioned on the image overrides
>>>>>>> that and you okayed pixabay, so that is now null and void?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 5:21 PM, rose tail <
>>>>>>> metallicarosetail at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks a lot for you suggestion
>>>>>>>> :)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 5:33 PM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Looking at the site's license terms:
>>>>>>>>> http://pixabay.com/en/service/terms/
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I don't think the images are licensed compatibly with GPL. For
>>>>>>>>> example:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>    - *You may not use Images for* pornographic, unlawful or other
>>>>>>>>>    immoral purposes, or in a way that can give a bad name to depicted persons,
>>>>>>>>>    or to imply endorsement of products and services by identifiable persons,
>>>>>>>>>    brands, organisations, etc.
>>>>>>>>>    - You are not allowed to mass download Images with an
>>>>>>>>>    application, *or reuse a big part of the Images for
>>>>>>>>>    redistribution on a similar Website*.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Neither of these terms is GPL-compatible.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 7:39 AM, Chip Bennett <chip at chipbennett.net
>>>>>>>>> > wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> What is the license of the specific image?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> If you don't know, then you can't use it.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 7:38 AM, rose tail <
>>>>>>>>>> metallicarosetail at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Can image be used from pixabay or not ?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>  On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 4:34 PM, Bryan Hadaway <
>>>>>>>>>>> bhadaway at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Unfortunately, that's always a possibility and it absolutely
>>>>>>>>>>>> happens.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Someone might rip off someone else's work or otherwise infringe
>>>>>>>>>>>> and upload or re-release something under their claim of ownership or a new
>>>>>>>>>>>> license, then anyone else that uses that work or even promotes it, shares
>>>>>>>>>>>> it with others, ends up inadvertently and ignorantly violating the original
>>>>>>>>>>>> owner's rights.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> All we can do is navigate the sometimes tricky world of
>>>>>>>>>>>> trademark and copyright law and respect other's rights as much as we can,
>>>>>>>>>>>> with the information we have, be kind to one another, in other words, be
>>>>>>>>>>>> mature adults and just use our common sense.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Then, if one day you get a legitimate cease and desist email
>>>>>>>>>>>> (which sometimes is just as unfortunate for the person that has to send out
>>>>>>>>>>>> such notices in the first place as it is for you to receive them), there's
>>>>>>>>>>>> no reason to be scared or get defensive, you should simply apologize, let
>>>>>>>>>>>> them know that you had no idea you were violating their rights and work to
>>>>>>>>>>>> quickly and amicably resolve the issue. I'd say 9/10 times, that's all
>>>>>>>>>>>> there is to it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Unfortunately, some people/companies might, on rare occasion,
>>>>>>>>>>>> try to seek monetary damages or to censor others whether you knew you were
>>>>>>>>>>>> doing anything wrong or not. That's partly what
>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.chillingeffects.org/ is about covering.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> It's kind of a hope for the best, prepare for the worst type
>>>>>>>>>>>> situation. You can hope that everyone always does the right thing, but
>>>>>>>>>>>> prepare for the fact that they most inevitably won't.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>>
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