[wp-hackers] Text ads in themes

[Scott Allan Wallick]

Barthelme is my theme, so I should sound off here.

Podz suggested posting the following on the download page for my sponsored
themes:

"This theme has a sponsored link which you are free to remove" would be better
> surely? Telling the blogger and allowing them to make a considered
> decision - or would telling the blogger have them removing the link?
>

I think this is a fine suggestion. At first I had assumed that the comment
with the sponsored link (which others noted here was reasonable and
GPL-friendly, and essentially said "Delete the sponsor's link if you like")
would be sufficient. And it sure was. I received a number of emails from
users who said, essentially, "I saw your note in the footer and I deleted
the sponsored link. OK?" and it always was.

Also, directly above the download link to my themes there is licensing
information and the following statement: "Please feel free to alter this
theme in any way that pleases you. All I ask is that you allow my original
design credit to remain."

However! being resonable, I see that placing a note in the statement above
could not possible be harmful at all, and instead act as yet another layer
of assurance that, yes, my themes are all GPL, and yes, please feel free to
change them as you like. So up it goes. Thanks, Podz.

Of course Barthelme could on WordPress.com without the sponsored link. If I
had been emailed as the consideration was in progress, I would have
initiated the suggestion that, well duh, that link should probably go. I
don't think it's such a good idea to make an example of Barthelme as a "bad
theme" because it has a text link ad in it.

The consideration should be, does this theme benefit WordPress.com users,
and if so, how can we make it available to them? I am disappointed in the
possibility that the badness of the downloadable version of Barthelme
outweighs the goodness of a text-link-free version might have to
wp.comcommunity.

I have spoken.

Also, it should be noted that I know nothing about nothing.

Thank you for your time.

scott

PS: Matt, I sent you an email. Thanks.