Switching from Creative Commons to GPL
- Filed under: Wpdesigner.com
I’ll be switching all of my themes from the Creative Commons ShareALike Attribution license to the GPL license. Under GPL, you can basically do whatever you want with my themes; it’s almost like a free for all deal. Mainly, GPL means removing the link-back requirement.
Why am I switching?
Despite that I’m just ONE theme designer and despite that I don’t contribute directly the WordPress codes, I believe that switching to GPL is a step in the direction to support the WordPress team and to help the WordPress theme community grow (positively). And, I’d like to encourage other theme designers to make the same decision, or at least sit down and consider switching to GPL.
Why didn’t I release my themes under GPL in the first place?
Actually, I did. Early Wpdesigner.com themes like Neo-Sapien was released under the GPL license. Later on, I started using Creative Commons ShareALike Attribution and required a link-back because I was friggin’ tired of rip-off designers. Some people actually ripped-off my themes, repackaged them, and put them up for downloading on their own sites.
Creative Commons and requiring a link-back was a way for me to discourage rip-offs, trying to get exposure on places like the Theme Viewer and WebBlogToolsCollection. I’m not going to name names, not because I’m taking the high road, but because they truly don’t deserve a plug on this site.
If you go through the archives, there is no post from August to October because I was so frustrated with people ripping my themes, that I took a break from it all. The last theme before I took the break is Annoyed. Can you guest what I was feeling then?
So why the switch now?
I didn’t consider switching until I had a chat with Matt Mullenweg. He wanted to know why I release my themes under CC and I explained to him the whole deal about rip-offs and blah blah blah. Afterwards, I didn’t give that part of the conversation much thought; I went to sleep.
The day after the chat, I reconsidered the conversation, the part about theme licensing, and how I would feel if I HAD TO link back to the theme designer because link-back was a requirement. In conclusion, I decided that CC and requiring a link back, just to protect myself from rip-off designers, isn’t the way to solve things. And whatever I do to discourage rip-offs should NOT affect the rest of my theme users.
Bottom line
I will be switching all of my themes throughout the next several days to GPL. Thank you to those that continue to link back to Wpdesigner.com.
P.S. - I’m sorry to those that came across my emails or messages requesting you to restore the link to wpdesigner.com. I had to do it. Otherwise, there’d be no point in requiring a link-back. You can use my themes without linking back from now on.
Mmm…Interesting move SP. You’re definitely doing a lot for the Wordpress community and contributing a lot to its growth, but is it to your own expense? Irrespective, I feel you deserve a lot of praise!
Maybe some bigshot PHP programmer should come up with a plugin (or maybe even the WP core developers), where a theme designer can track the number of blogs that his theme is installed? This way a template can be released under GPL, everyone can chop and change, but a designer will still know how successfull or popular his design was!?
Adii - That sounds like spy-ware. Hahaha I kid I kid
I don’t know. It just feels right so I’m doing it.
If you’ll ever come to Italy, I will like to offer you at least a couple of pizzas
You have my apreciation and my simpathy.
bye
Wow! I’m very impressed with you, lately, SP. I, too, had become disgusted with sponsored themes (I hear Mark and Ajay are, as well), and now this. You’re truly an inspiration to us all.
I had not really thought about this before. I think I’ll also release my themes under GPL. I think it’s better for the entire community.
That’s great Justin!
Seems crazy to me not to link back to the original theme author, GPL or creative commons regardless…
But you know, it sort of sorts out who’s who, I suppose.
digitalramble,
thanks for the blogroll link
This is a really, really difficult situation. Especially if you consider that most WP designers are not as established as Mr Small Potato over here
See my post about design credit here: Design Credit Ramblings again…
I really appreciate your designs. I have several in my theme folder - I’m using one at the moment. With my limited knowledge of CSS and php and, well, everything really, I am thankful for their versatility.
Whether the need for a linkback is required or not I will continue to acknowledge you as the designer and keep a link to your site.
Thank you so much for your themes.
u’re a great designer indeed,
i was looking for a new theme for my web and i see u have created a lot of great theme,
maybe in the next future i’ll use it..
and if i use it, i still kept a link to the your website
have u considered using WTFPL license ? just kidding
[…] WP Designer is switching from Creative Commons to GPL for his themes. « Showing Arrogance Comment » […]
It’s just common courtesy to link back to the author… sheesh. Sorry you’ve had so much trouble. Hopefully GPL works out to be the best way to go for the sake of the WP community.
[…] Potato” is Switching from Creative Commons to GPL: Despite that I’m just ONE theme designer and despite that I don’t contribute directly the […]
this is a brave thing to do, but since you achieved somewhat of an instant fame within months and seen the ups and downs of a designer, this is a really good move to encourage others.
the CC license is often used by people such as () and () to ensure that their scammed themes dont loose their sponsored links in the footer. kinda abusing the CC.
I will be watching this space, there is loads to see! keep on going dude
I kind of thought the WP developers had moved past the point of putting pressure on designers not to release under CC. (Waaaay back in the day, I was prevented from entering the first ever theme competition because I dared to release under CC-Attribution).
These days I release under GPL anyway because CC is largely unenforcable, but I’m a strong believer in allowing designers to decide their own terms of use and I’m sad that that’s being threatened again.
[…] Nos, Small Potato, a Wpdesigner.com készÃtÅ‘je ezt máshogy gondolta, a CC-t elhagyta, és átpártolt a GPL-hez. “Under GPL, you can basically do whatever you want with my themes; it’s almost like a free […]
sounds great …
that’s really cool of you!
[…] Potatoes is rewarded for caving into pressure to relicence his CC themes as GPL with precious linkjuice from the master’s PR 8 blog. (Remind me how he got that ranking […]
That Great… Welcome to GPL ^_*
An interesting read. I’m changing licensing on everything that goes out on my site too. I’m pretty relaxed about rip-offs, but when people just pick up a post I spent a few hours on and present it as their own I get a bit cheesed.
CC Attribution should be a perfectly good way to publish, but I’m starting to think GPL might be the way to go.
[…] I think this is a very good move. Small Potato–who is no small potato when it comes to WordPress themes–it looks like he has well over 30 well designed themes–has just committed to switching all his themes from Creative Commons licensing to GPL. […]
that’s a very noble gesture. I salute you!
regards
[…] more […]
[…] einem (englischen) Beitrag erläutert er, warum er diesen Weg jetzt geht und wieso er seine Themen vorher unter der CC-Lizenz veröffentlicht […]
Uhm.. does that mean we can modify your layout and sell it?
Aww.. that is so sweet of you. Come to Malaysia, I treat you char kuey teow!
Sheesh @ ethie… Don’t think SP or anyone else would like it if you do that!
why would you modify and sell lol, leave it the way it is and use his tutorials to make your own and sell
more unique that way
It was merely a question. Don’t shoot at me! T.T
[…] my themes to GPL. I think Small Potato (a cool theme designer) said it as good as it could be said: “… I believe that switching to GPL is a step in the direction to support the WordPress t… So, in the spirit of community, I say enjoy my […]
This is why I haven’t defined any license for my themes or website templates. People have always been free to make any changes they want, including removing the credits if they don’t want to use it. I have always considered that to be the choice of the site owner, not something I should control.
Naturally, this also means that there are many variations and rip-offs of my themes all over the web - and many companies are selling my designs as commercial templates to different clients. But that’s sadly something I’ve had to accept. But since my main priority with web design has always been to help people, it is easy to see that the positive effects are much larger than the negative effects.
Rip-offs may not give me any credit, but even if a copied and lightly altered design can help a single user improve his or her website, then that is what really matters. At the end of the day, I know I’ve done a good job - and I know that someone appreciates the effort.
Good work leaving the link requirement out, I hope more theme designers will follow that direction - and that the focus is placed on the complete freedome of use rather than the near-sighted debate about sponsored links in the footers. Good luck with future releases!
I think this is a great move, but i would have been prefered to stay with creative common lisence.
Remember that the GPL works by using your Copyright, so anyone redistributing your themes cannot remove your copyright notices.
Obviously a copyright notice isn’t a link, and they don’t have to make it prominent but it’s still a credit.
In this day an age its almost impossible to prevent ripoffs. And really, other than images, and colors much of the code can be considered the same from website to website. The same tricks and hacks, etc.
I applaud your openness.
Congrats! Finally Wordpress has given you the much deserved publicity. I’m happy to see you doing good work, on a not-for-profit basis. But, in many ways it’ll surely pay out.
My limited (almost null) knowledge of php, css, etc, wouldn’t let me make a theme. One license or another, I will keep the link. I think you have made a good job and it is my way to say thanks
[…] I wanted to switch all themes to GPL in the previous post, but that’s easier said than done. Although I’m moving in the right direction by […]
I don’t understand how GPL is better for the Wordpress community.
I think it should be a full requirement that people link back the creator, at least in the footer. It’s about your time and hard work. You’re so talented, I don’t want to see you lose your interest because people are greedy.
[…] only does he turn out lots of kick-ass Wordpress themes (now under GPL license), he’s created a wonderfully exhaustive tutorial on creating custom Wordpress […]
[…] Switching from Creative Commons to GPL […]
Hey Small Potato, I have a quick question for you. I’m getting into designing my own themes but I’m not so good at doing things from scratch. With a your themes being under gpl now, does this mean I can, for example, use one of your themes as a base to make a completely different theme of my own?
Cheers.
Yes, that’s right. Not all of my themes are under GPL yet. Most of them are.
Thanks, I’ll pay attention - and once I have a theme done, I’ll be sure to pass it on to you so you can have a look-see.
Take care. John.
Is there a way to view the GPL’d themes on your site?