[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #37307: Indicate non-GPL plugins and themes for users

[WordPress Trac]

#37307: Indicate non-GPL plugins and themes for users
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 Reporter:  Zuige        |       Owner:
     Type:  enhancement  |      Status:  new
 Priority:  normal       |   Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  General      |     Version:  4.4.3
 Severity:  normal       |  Resolution:
 Keywords:               |     Focuses:  ui, administration
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Comment (by Zuige):

 > What's the benefit in showing the license of a plugin that is already
 installed? The majority of users only installs plugins from WordPress.org.
 Telling them "Hey, your plugins are 100% GPL" isn't helpful.

 That's fine. There might not be a need to tell them when all their plugins
 are GPL. Might be nice to know, but not so important when all is good in
 the world.

 When _it is_ important, is when they go outside of the plugin directory
 and install a piece of proprietary software that strips them of their
 rights to know exactly what the plugin does to their site.

 > If a non-GPL plugin is already installed, does the user even care? It's
 already installed, so what? Should they uninstall it again even though
 it's working just fine? They don't know the difference between all these
 licenses anyway.

 I'd for example like to know for sure that all my plugins allow me to use
 them in a for-profit manner without the vendor taking a cut.

 You do have a point there. It might be too late once the plugin is already
 there. Usually the problems begin way later, like when the vendor abandons
 their plugin and stops providing support and updates, or once they find
 out the plugin is tracking users.

 Giving the user positive feedback in the UI for running GPL plugins might
 teach the user to prefer plugins and themes with a GPL license. I
 genuinely believe it would help their experience with WordPress, when they
 wouldn't run into trouble with shady plugin vendors.

 > To sum this up, I have one question: Why?

 It's a very basic thing for the user to be able to know what kind of
 plugins they're running. Wouldn't it be nice if we could steer them into
 preferring GPL plugins and freedom, instead leaving them to the dangers of
 proprietary licenses?

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/37307#comment:4>
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