After more than a week of hostility between Chris Pearson, the designer of Thesis Theme and WordPress top cat, Matt Mullenweg, things finally simmered down with the Thesis Theme finally adopting a split GPL for the Theme. In basic terms, this would mean everything that the Theme has to do with WordPress will be under GPL while all those that is the original work of the Thesis designer remains as property of the developers. Hope this do not sound too confusing. Frankly, I too am a little bit confused.
According to Mashable,
“the license that makes it possible to alter and redistribute this software as you see fit.”
Also from the same article,
“According to the GPL, software can be sold commercially but the user must be free to share the software, free to modify it, free to redistribute it to the community and free to share copies of his modified versions. In the words of the license, “If you distribute copies of such a program, whether gratis or for a fee, you must pass on to the recipients the same freedoms that you received.”
I am still in a confusion state, but if I read correctly, does that mean that I can now buy a copy of Thesis Theme, mod it (since the images and all are still owned by the original designer) and then re-distribute it for free?
Does that also mean that if I have a single license copy, I can mod it to look differently and use it for unlimited number of sites as long as I do not charge for the Theme, but only charge for the expenses incurred in modding the Theme? The present practice amongst Thesis modders is the user has to buy the Theme first in order to use the modded skins. Without the Theme, the skins will be completely useless.
According the Thesis designer, Pearson, this adoption of GPL will not make much of a difference to the majority as a big chunk of the Thesis Theme is still private property which cannot be re-distributed without license.
Does that not sort of nullify whatever the GPL states?
Confused? You bet.
Whatever, GPL or otherwise, the Thesis Theme is been so widely ‘torrented’ that it doesn’t make much difference anymore. Tips and Tutorials about the Theme is also so common that they do not even need to seek for official support. Those with ‘illegal’ copies have no problems solving issues with the Theme should they face any as the Net has become one big public support forum.
This is some technical bullsh*t. I am reading the definitions off Wikipedia and they still don’t make sense.
As far as I understand, once you get it legally, you are allowed to add or modify and redistribute as long as you give credit to the original creator…
But then someone below it says “Because a GPL work is copyrighted, a licensee has no right to redistribute it, not even in modified form (barring fair use), except under the terms of the license”
So basically nothing changed. I can go GPL, and put up a license that you are not allowed to modify,redistribute my work. Thus it’s free to modify and redistribute, but since you are obligated to my license you can’t.
Paradox?