[License-discuss] WordPress GPL software

[Bruce Perens]

It would help if you would name the specific module and vendor.
There is certainly nothing wrong with making another module that does the
same thing as a high-priced one, and selling that.

On Thu, Sep 26, 2019 at 3:15 AM Florian Weimer <fw at deneb.enyo.de> wrote:

> * zak:
>
> > SPECIFICALLY, can someone else legally re-distribute (sell for less or
> give
> > away) the commercially available software (eg. themes and plugins),
> without
> > permission of the people who developer them? Are the modified,
> commercially
> > available themes, plugins, etc also GPL simply because they are created
> > using original WordPress GPL software?
>
> Practically speaking, you cannot know what kind of arrangements the
> commercial distributor has made with other authors.  After all, they
> may have permission to distribute something under non-GPL terms.
>
> Even if they don't, that's between them and the owners of the
> copyright that they infringe.  It does not give further recipients
> permission to infringe *their* copyright.  (There's something odd in
> the GPLv3 in this regard, but I don't think that can apply if you only
> get to that point by an upgrade from the GPLv2.)
>
> There's also a possibility that these authors use a subscription model
> where source code access is one of the services they provide, and you
> are not allowed to provision that service to third parties (without
> violating the terms of the subscription agreement).  I believe the
> general assumption is that such terms are acceptable if one can end
> the subscription at any time and exercise all relevant rights under
> the GPL.
>
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-- 
Bruce Perens - Partner, OSS.Capital.
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