Can I re-use premium themes on multiple domains if I changed the theme?

It can be argued that a theme (and most plugins, but not necessarily all) are derivative works of WordPress, and are thus subject to the GPL’s terms. Thus, distributing a theme under a license not compatible with the GPL is a violation of the GPL.

Having worked with a lot of different GPL software in the past, I tend to agree with this interpretation. However, like you point out, that doesn’t stop anyone from slapping a license on something and calling it proprietary regardless of what it’s based on. Then the question is simple: Is a user willing to chance finding themselves in a lawsuit, go to court, (as unlikely as it may be), and try to make the case that the proprietary license is invalid because of GPL?

Most people don’t need that headache and will just find something that is clearly GPL…or pay the license fee.

Otto,

GPL discussions can get real fun real quick.

It’s an old discussion and partly why we have the LGPL. The derivative works issue has been around and this is partly why this same discussion gets so heated up on Linux threads.

While it can be interpreted and argued either way, at some point the developer must make the call. I don’t know if I’ll ever agree that the developers are choosing illegal licenses, but it would be hard to change someone elses mind either way.

Moving on to solving tangible problems like “What does headers already sent mean”… ??

Stepping back a little i guess what i said before does ring true, and it is really open to interpretation.

You can be sat at either side of the fence, it depends how you feel about it.

I don’t think this needs to get heated, and i don’t think anyone in particular is correct, it’s just totally open to opinion, and noone’s opinion holds more value then the next guy’s… regardless of how important or correct some people would have you believe there opinion is, and this applies to anyone… Even me… ??

This is what got me reading in the first place, the whole debate…. ?? love it!! ??

Having worked with a lot of different GPL software in the past, I tend to agree with this interpretation. However, like you point out, that doesn’t stop anyone from slapping a license on something and calling it proprietary regardless of what it’s based on. Then the question is simple: Is a user willing to chance finding themselves in a lawsuit, go to court, (as unlikely as it may be), and try to make the case that the proprietary license is invalid because of GPL?

And even if they successfully argue that, it’s a lose-lose for the end-user. The theme is still copyrighted by the theme author, so if the end-user successfully invalidates the license, then he’s shot himself in the foot, as without that license the end-user has no rights to the theme at all.

Here’s my list of avoids when it comes to themes. Don’t use a theme if:
– It uses a license that is not GPL-compatible.
– It has any “encrypted” code in it. Check the footer.php file, this is most common.
– It comes from any site other than www.remarpro.com with the word “wordpress” in the domain name (they’re violating a trademark here).

That’s just my rules of thumb, of course.