Themes?

edwinms

12 years ago

step to change it
open your dashboard
go to appearance than editor
search footer.php

usually you can change there..

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Arunabh Singh

12 years ago

I'd just like to add that you can't change the theme footer file(Theme Credits) if you are using a free theme unless you have permission from the theme creator. If you are using a paid theme then its fine. You can follow the instruction posted above my post to change the footer.

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Cre8ive

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Arunabh Singh

I'd just like to add that you can't change the theme footer file(Theme Credits) if you are using a free theme unless you have permission from the theme creator. If you are using a paid theme then its fine. You can follow the instruction posted above my post to change the footer.

Actually, thats a misunderstood detail.
You can remove any links you want since Wordpress is GPL, and hence all themes must abide the GPL Wordpress is setting.

Matt got into a huge media storm with the creator of the Thesis Framework, because of this same detail, because.. as Matt say. you CANT demand a license that differs from the Wordpress GPL, since any theme is based on the Wordpress GPL.

So, as you can remove the "powered by wordpress" link, you can also remove any other links with reference to the Wordpress GPL.

Part of this license outlines requirements for derivative works, such as plugins or themes. Derivatives of WordPress code inherit the GPL license.

Source: WordPress › About » License

But expect a thunderstorm, since its such a touchy subject.

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Arunabh Singh

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Cre8ive

Actually, thats a misunderstood detail.
You can remove any links you want since Wordpress is GPL, and hence all themes must abide the GPL Wordpress is setting.

Matt got into a huge media storm with the creator of the Thesis Framework, because of this same detail, because.. as Matt say. you CANT demand a license that differs from the Wordpress GPL, since any theme is based on the Wordpress GPL.

So, as you can remove the "powered by wordpress" link, you can also remove any other links with reference to the Wordpress GPL.

Part of this license outlines requirements for derivative works, such as plugins or themes. Derivatives of WordPress code inherit the GPL license.

Source: WordPress › About » License

But expect a thunderstorm, since its such a touchy subject.

Thanks for letting me know. I wasn't aware of this development.

When I used to have free themes on my blog I was told by the theme creators and various other people to keep the credit links intact. That was the major reason behind me getting a WooThemes subscription.

Thanks
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Cre8ive

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Arunabh Singh

Thanks for letting me know. I wasn't aware of this development.

When I used to have free themes on my blog I was told by the theme creators and various other people to keep the credit links intact. That was the major reason behind me getting a WooThemes subscription.

Yearh i didnt know it either before i heard about Matt threatening to sue the Thesis guy... was all over Mashable etc. at a time, and then i heard the live podcast where Matt and the guy gets at each others throats.

The thing is that 99% of people, and theme creators actually doesnt know it, so its not that they are doing anything "bad" - they just dont know it, and yes it does (from a developer point of view) present a problem that you cant even provide your own license/demands for your own code. But thats the WP GPL.

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onSubie

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Cre8ive

Actually, thats a misunderstood detail.
You can remove any links you want since Wordpress is GPL, and hence all themes must abide the GPL Wordpress is setting.

That is an excellent point.

Does this protect people who hack paid themes and plugins and share them on file-share sites?

I would expect it might.

If an ISP got a take down notice from a high-end paid plugin owner and the response from the infringer was they they had a license and showed the GPL agreement. Would that show they are not in violation? Assuming the vilation doesn't include other material that can by 'owned' like training manuals and documents.

WordPress seems to want a business model that offers the Theme/Plugin under GPL but the author then monetizes by adding support, training, and supplementary material.

Many marketers are making millions with WordPress themes and plugins using code developed and given away by WP for free under the GPL. Locking that up is a violation of the GPL license they are bound by for using the WP platform and code.

Originally Posted by Arunabh Singh

When I used to have free themes on my blog I was told by the theme creators and various other people to keep the credit links intact. That was the major reason behind me getting a WooThemes subscription.

They tell you that because they want their links there, not because you have to keep them. The Woo Themes are GPL too. You pay Woo for the support and early access to newer themes before they are distributed around under GPL.

Some themes get changed to ADD things the hackers want, like their own hidden links and functions so be careful if you don't know the source of a theme.

That's why so many plugins are protected with online authentication that is often updated to kill stolen versions when a new update is released. You can share the plugin under GPL, but nobody can use it without paying to activate it.

That's why I was wondering if the GPL protected hackers/file sharers. If you hack a plugin to circumvent authentication, is that just code changes that would be allowed under the GPL?

Mahlon

PS I am NOT a hacker and wouldn't know where to begin to do this.

Thanks
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Cre8ive

12 years ago

I think its always a very difficult subject.

On one hand Matt is right regarding inheriting the License.

On the other hand, what prevents me as a theme designer/developer from suing your ass off, for using one of my designs, when you you dont abide by my rules.. even thought they are not "legal" since they would inherit the WP GPL, i still own the rights to the design under DMCA.

You see the problem ?

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Istvan Horvath

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Cre8ive

You see the problem ?

Not really...

It has been made quite clear if you design a theme then the template files that interact with the core WP files and use the template tags defined by the WP script - that part must be under GPL.

You can protect as your own intellectual property (read: copyright protected) the CSS and the images included.

Furthermore: Even if something is copyrighted... it doesn't necessarily mean you must display a visible link.

And to make it more complicated: just because it is released under GPL it doesn't mean the original author doesn't own the copyright.
Matt and/or his company owns the copyright for the whole WordPress package. And you can do whatever you want with it... except claiming it is your code.

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Cre8ive

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath

Not really...

It has been made quite clear if you design a theme then the template files that interact with the core WP files and use the template tags defined by the WP script - that part must be under GPL.

You can protect as your own intellectual property (read: copyright protected) the CSS and the images included.

Furthermore: Even if something is copyrighted... it doesn't necessarily mean you must display a visible link.

And to make it more complicated: just because it is released under GPL it doesn't mean the original author doesn't own the copyright.
Matt and/or his company owns the copyright for the whole WordPress package. And you can do whatever you want with it... except claiming it is your code.

I agree with you somewhat.

My statement was based on the fact:
1. The developer cant demand the link in the footer since its part of the WP GPL and therefore free for the user to use and change as seen fit.

2. But he can revoke the users right to use his copyrighted material (basicly everything else than the PHP-code)

3. If the PHP-code the developer created for the theme is submitted to the WP GPL the same second it is programmed with the WP-code it would have the same meaning as giving up the rights to all the work, since it from that second would be "free to change and use as seen fit" under the WP GPL - In other words.. free to distribute.

Ultimately this means that all Premium Wordpress themes can be bought, stripped for the framework and distributed/resold lawfully according to the WP GPL

Basicly... (We could always argue of the morale in it)... But it would be completely legal for anyone to buy a Premium Theme and offer free themes/or even resell it based on that coded php-framework, but with own designs/css etc, since its WP GPL - and free for anyone to alter and distribute as they want.

Even though someone else spent 300 hours developing that code.

But this is what Wordpress say themselves:
There is some legal grey area regarding what is considered a derivative work, but we feel strongly that plugins and themes are derivative work and thus inherit the GPL license. If you disagree, you might want to consider a non-GPL platform such as Serendipity (BSD license) or Habari (Apache license) instead.

In other words... "fail to comply and we might just roll out the guns, depending on how greedy we think you are and how much money you make from work that relies on the WP code"

8: If I write a module or theme, do I have to give it away to everyone?

No. The GPL requires that if you make a derivative work of Drupal and distribute it to someone else, you must provide that person with the source code under the terms of the GPL so that they may modify and redistribute it under the terms of the GPL as well. However, you are under no obligation to distribute the code to anyone else. If you do not distribute the code but use it only within your organization, then you are not required to distribute it to anyone at all.

However, if your module is of general use then it is often a good idea to contribute it back to the community anyway. You can get feedback, bug reports, and new feature patches from others who find it useful.

9: Is it permitted for me to sell Drupal or a Drupal module or a Drupal theme?

Yes. However, you must distribute it under the GPL version 2 or later, so those you sell it to must be allowed to modify and redistribute it as well. See questions 6 and 7 above.

Being that Wordpress is based on the Drupal GPL, same complies.

Personally i think its a hole in the "system"

It would reflect me going out and buying a Mercedes, doing a paintjob, and then sell it as my own brand and then cash in on someone elses countless hours of research and development.

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Cre8ive 12 years ago

But at the same time thats exactly what all developers are doing when they use the free wordpres, for their projects. - Basing it on the countless hours of the WP teams efforts...

Goes around in a loop i guess.
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Tonylee93

12 years ago

Oh, if its sure a problem than It won`t mind me. I wouldn`t want a "thunderstorm" thats just bad for your repuation online and not fun. I don`t believe it would be worth the time and problems just to change that little thing on the bottom. Thank you for the information!

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AndreasJacobsen

12 years ago

I browse themes from the official wordpress website..

You will find some good stuff under 'most popular'

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ChristineCobb

12 years ago

Back to the original question, the Genesis framework from Studio Press has a plugin called Genesis Simple Edits that makes changing the footer credits really easy and you can put anything you want in there.

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Themes?

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