[License-discuss] WordPress GPL software

[Bruce Perens]

Well, that site appears to be selling things that you can download for
free, and not compensating the developers. It would make more sense for you
to recommend that people download the software for free from the developers
own sites.

I have not audited that they are in full compliance regarding all of the
products on their site, so I can't say whether they are legal or not.

    Thanks

    Bruce

On Thu, Sep 26, 2019 at 4:22 PM zak <zakman.green at gmail.com> wrote:

> I stumbled across a site (https://www.gplkey.com) that sells
> WordPress-related themes, plugins, etc. at a much cheaper price than their
> developers sell them for. I'd actually like to recommend this site but, not
> if it's illegal.  It would be helpful if I knew what the licencing was, for
> the themes, plugins, etc but it's not clear (or present at all) on most of
> the sales pages.  So technically, it seems like it's ok to sell these
> products for less.  No..?
>
> I'm having a confusing time understanding licensing and copyright
> infringement.  I expect that this kind of re-sale would not sit well with
> the original developers of the products, but it's a great option for people
> on a budget who would appreciate an opportunity to obtain these software
> applications for considerably less -- with the understanding of course that
> the firesale price doesn't come with any kind of support.  Heck, I would
> pay that price... IF it wasn't illegal (haven't bought anything yet).
>
> Like I say, I would like to recommend this site (and use it myself) but I
> also don't want to be associated with anything illegal. I'd just like to
> understand the licensing and copyright restrictions and whether I could
> justify recommending that people buy WP-related products from this site.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 26, 2019 at 8:17 AM Bruce Perens <bruce at perens.com> wrote:
>
>> 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.
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> License-discuss mailing list
>>> License-discuss at lists.opensource.org
>>>
>>> http://lists.opensource.org/mailman/listinfo/license-discuss_lists.opensource.org
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Bruce Perens - Partner, OSS.Capital.
>>
>

-- 
Bruce Perens - Partner, OSS.Capital.
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