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wordpress source code theft

by ej2
10 replies
Is there a way to check if someone you hired to develop a word press plugin jacked another developer's source code? I hear it happen a lot, and I don't want to pay someone who just steals someone else work and then sell it. Is there like a copyscape for source code? How would I know if I'm paying for copied code or not?

Any help please.....
#code #source #theft #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author SnakeDev
    I don't know of any way to track if the Developers steal your code, but what i do know is that all Wordpress Themes & Plugins inherit the GPL license even if everyone is adding a Licensing System & encoding their themes or plugins, they must release the full source code because all the PHP code is under GPL license..

    Quting from Understanding Copyright And Licenses | Smashing Magazine

    "The GPL allows you to sell this work, but it also allows others to redistribute and sell it, too; you can't do much about that. However, theoretically, the only derivative work that falls under GPL is the PHP code; any images, CSS and other content in your project remain yours. On top of that, you are free to charge extra for technical support and so on."

    Sincerely,

    Stefan V
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  • Profile picture of the author SteveSRS
    completely correct what SnakeDev said..

    ANY WordPress plugin or Theme falls under that license and you can use all of it as you seem fit always!

    The whole PLR / MRR etc for themes and plugins does NOT exists.. just marketing tricks.. if you have the plugin you can do what it what you want which includes selling / distributing it again!
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  • Profile picture of the author A007A
    there are so many ways to check privacy. just Google it and you will find your target.
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  • Profile picture of the author SnakeDev
    Probably the best thing you could do is having him sign some Non Disclosure, Non Compete & Confidentiality Agreements... but you'll need to talk with a lawyer about this since we are talking about stuff that falls into the GPL license...

    Like SteveSRS said, those PLR/MRR/ Single Site / Multi-site / Developer Editions... those are just Marketing Tricks and they work with people who don't know that everything related to wordpress is released under GPL license and they can't protect it but they seem to forget that they have to release the entire PHP source code and not encoding it with Ioncube and other encoders...

    Everyone is Free to Modify & Distribute all wordpress themes & plugins ( that's why we find a lot of similarities in the WSO's here ), no matter what the developers are saying in the sales pages, they can't do anything about it because is LEGAL since their code falls into the GPL License...
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  • Profile picture of the author imarkedy
    This sort of 'jacking' is actually quite common (unfortunately). Clone Scripting is actually BIG BUSINESS and scripts from the most popular sites can cost up to $2,000 - $10,000 per. Further, sites selling these scripts advertise on Google Adwords frequently and very few receive bans it seems. Sad but true.

    Intellectual property of any kind is very hard to protect on the web. The entertainment industry spends billions and BUYS elected officials (hello SOPA) to help and still fail.
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    • Profile picture of the author SteveSRS
      Originally Posted by imarkedy View Post

      This sort of 'jacking' is actually quite common (unfortunately). Clone Scripting is actually BIG BUSINESS and scripts from the most popular sites can cost up to $2,000 - $10,000 per. Further, sites selling these scripts advertise on Google Adwords frequently and very few receive bans it seems. Sad but true.

      Intellectual property of any kind is very hard to protect on the web. The entertainment industry spends billions and BUYS elected officials (hello SOPA) to help and still fail.
      And very good it is like this! Yes intellectual property should be protected up until some point it should NEVER stand in the way of innovation.. I HATE those patent wars and ridiculous patents they just keep the whole world in the middle ages (so to speak).

      And I don't see anything bad with this 'clone scripts' either.. those sites which are cloned don't (or barely) loose anything on this (more even they get MORE popular most of the time!). The people creating those clone scripts put in a lot of time so they deserve to be paid for their work. If a clone site would get more popular then a original one (never happened as far as I know) they would deserve it as then they are clearly doing something better.

      and actually it quite annoys me all those stupid licenses with WP plugins as doing THAT is legally just WRONG (GPL license is a legal accepted document). If I'm going to buy a plugin and it says one site license I will say F-YOU and install it on as many sites as I seem fit.

      For respect of the creator (and just out of common good business sense) I won't go and sharing the code (I could if I wanted too) but that is not because I just bought a 'single site license'. If plugin makers have a problem with that they should put their efforts into another business and not making WP plugins..
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      • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
        Originally Posted by SteveSRS View Post

        and actually it quite annoys me all those stupid licenses with WP plugins as doing THAT is legally just WRONG (GPL license is a legal accepted document).
        The GPL as it relates to WP has never been tested in court. No one knows if it will stand or not.

        If I'm going to buy a plugin and it says one site license I will say F-YOU and install it on as many sites as I seem fit.
        Not if I serve the relevant parts of the plugin via a registration server, or restrict functionality levels to registered domains. This is exactly the model of Akismet, and why it uses a registration key.

        For respect of the creator (and just out of common good business sense) I won't go and sharing the code (I could if I wanted too) but that is not because I just bought a 'single site license'. If plugin makers have a problem with that they should put their efforts into another business and not making WP plugins..
        I should just give my hard work and intellectual acumen to others for free - just because?

        If you bought a plugin from me that I have set restrictions on, you would NOT be able to use it in any way other than I allow. If you don't like my source code being encrypted, or don't like not being able to see the working guts of the plugin, you can sue me.
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        • Profile picture of the author SteveSRS
          Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

          Not if I serve the relevant parts of the plugin via a registration server, or restrict functionality levels to registered domains. This is exactly the model of Akismet, and why it uses a registration key.
          Yes and? Even if you serve relevant part of the server (which almost never happens with plugins sold here on WF) I can still install it on multiple sites without you ever noticing it.

          Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

          I should just give my hard work and intellectual acumen to others for free - just because?
          Did I ever mention that I did not agree for paying for a WP plugin?? No I didn't. I merely do not agree with the different licenses for 1 website / unlimited / developer. I'm totally ok people asking money for their plugins.

          Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

          If you bought a plugin from me that I have set restrictions on, you would NOT be able to use it in any way other than I allow.
          Sounds like a challenge and I'll take it any time..

          Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

          If you don't like my source code being encrypted, or don't like not being able to see the working guts of the plugin, you can sue me.
          Sue you, over some plugin I have better things to do.. also my point was more directed in the other way.. don't complain / be bitter if I would be using your '1 site license' on multiple websites because you you have no right to do so.. and if you think you do.. sue me..
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        • Profile picture of the author SnakeDev
          Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

          Not if I serve the relevant parts of the plugin via a registration server, or restrict functionality levels to registered domains. This is exactly the model of Akismet, and why it uses a registration key.
          Akismet is requiring an API Key, not a registration key... and that's because is directly connected with your wordpress account..

          Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

          I should just give my hard work and intellectual acumen to others for free - just because?
          Not "Just Because" .... but because you have choosed to make plugins and themes for a GPL Licensed product...

          If you don't like it, make your own CMS and charge for it & the addons...

          Or you can Sue someone who's using their "Single Site License" on multiple or clients sites and this way you can test the GPL License ( the GPL License comes with FREE distribution/resell rights too - NO LIMITS )

          There is no Legal Way to protect Plugins or Themes that we create for Wordpress..
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  • Profile picture of the author syedqurat
    Yes i agree with SnakeDev. dont know any web service where you find code is copy or not
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