repackaging/redistributing plugins

kemie · 2008-06-28 14:35:14

I’m thinking of making a txp template and selling it. If I understand correctly, plugins are licenced through GPL unless specified otherwise, and as such, I could bundle them with my theme… is this correct? Would anyone have objections to me doing this? I would not be charging for the plugins themselves, but rather for a whole setup (forms, pages, styles, graphics and plugins).

ruud · 2008-06-28 15:44:58

IANAL, but as I understand it, plugins have GPL compatible licenses and the package you’d be distributing would be GPL licenced. I don’t think GPL prevents you from charging when distributing such a package, although the recipient would be free to re-distribute as well.

kemie · 2008-06-28 16:13:48

hm, would the gpl still apply if the theme were released without plugins?

hcgtv · 2008-06-28 16:28:22

9. License Must Not Restrict Other Software

The license must not place restrictions on other software that is distributed along with the licensed software. For example, the license must not insist that all other programs distributed on the same medium must be open-source software.

kemie · 2008-06-28 17:30:19

ok, “straight from the horse’s mouth”: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.php

2. You may modify your copy or copies of the Program or any portion of it, thus forming a work based on the Program, and copy and distribute such modifications or work under the terms of Section 1 above, provided that you also meet all of these conditions:

…

b) You must cause any work that you distribute or publish, that in whole or in part contains or is derived from the Program or any part thereof, to be licensed as a whole at no charge to all third parties under the terms of this License.

That would lead me to believe ruud’s statement to be true, but I guess it depends on the definition of “contains or is derived from”. :S

hcgtv · 2008-06-28 18:02:14

Then, how does JoomlaShack do it then?

hcgtv · 2008-06-28 19:12:19

More reading:

MVC & Commercial Templates

GNU FAQ on templates

I’m using Joomla! as a basis cause there are millions of users and there are quite a number of sites making money with templates, plugins and repackaging of the core with value add. If the Joomla! folks figured it out, then the answer lies in their forums.

From what I’ve read, there’s no legal reason that kemie cannot include plugins in the template distribution.

Last edited by hcgtv (2008-06-28 19:38:03)

wet · 2008-06-28 19:46:07

Legal:

You can add plugins, as they are GPLicensed. Any plugin author who uses an incompatible license violates TXP’s license.
You can charge whatever you want.
You cannot restrict the redistribution of your work. You cannot request any fee for the redistributed work.

Ethics:

You must credit all authors.
You must ask all authors if they feel comfortable with your arrangement.
You must not pretend to be the creator of others’ work.

net-carver · 2008-06-29 13:49:10

Kemie wrote:

Would anyone have objections to me doing this?

Hi Kemie, speaking as a plugin author I have some questions before I could post again and hopefully answer your original question about objecting…

Could you indicate which plugins are you want to bundle so their authors are able to respond directly if they so wish?
How will you be supporting your package — for example, if someone paid you for it, installed it and then had trouble with a plugin; would you answer their questions or would the author be expected to?

Thank you in advance,

kemie · 2008-06-29 18:45:17

I haven’t yet decided on much, I’m mostly exploring the idea before I start so I don’t do anything I shouldn’t. I haven’t quite decided on any plugins, except for hcg_templates, which i’d use to have the customers install the theme.

I understand legally I’m allowed to distribute the plugins, my 2 main concerns are:
-Do the authors authorize this? I would not want to do it if they were uncomfortable with the idea
-Does it mean necessarily that my template would have to be GPL? Does it matter, for example, if I bundle the plugins within the template vs. providing a separate download with the plugins?

In response to #1, I guess I’ll plan a bit, see what I’d need, and contact the authors directly to get their consent before doing anything.
To answer net’s second question, again, the idea is not 100% clear yet, but I’m thinking I would support installation and usage of the plugin within the context of my template d , and would redirect to plugin autors in case of bug reports or technical issues. Does this sound fair?

I’m really interested in getting input here. Like I said, the last thing I want to do is do something that authors are not happy with.

wet · 2008-06-29 19:03:44

kemie wrote:

-Does it mean necessarily that my template would have to be GPL?

The GPL is quite clear (and viral):

If you wish to incorporate parts of the Program into other free programs whose distribution conditions are different, write to the author to ask for permission.

You must cause any work that you distribute or publish, that in whole or in part contains or is derived from the Program or any part thereof, to be licensed as a whole at no charge to all third parties under the terms of this License.

If you’d manage to build a template which does not interface with Textpattern, you’d be able to license your template with a different license. I suspect that your template contains at least one <txp:... tag, thus it contains a part of Textpattern.

There are several business models which work for GPL’d Programs (consulting, charging for the physical act of delivery, charging for documentation, charging for your own graphics).

kemie · 2008-06-29 19:08:39

would it be kosher then to distribute the html /txp setup as GPL and the graphics and CSS under a different licence? My head is spinning. :P

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#1 2008-06-28 14:35:14

repackaging/redistributing plugins

#2 2008-06-28 15:44:58

Re: repackaging/redistributing plugins

#3 2008-06-28 16:13:48

Re: repackaging/redistributing plugins

#4 2008-06-28 16:28:22

Re: repackaging/redistributing plugins

#5 2008-06-28 17:30:19

Re: repackaging/redistributing plugins

#6 2008-06-28 18:02:14

Re: repackaging/redistributing plugins

#7 2008-06-28 19:12:19

Re: repackaging/redistributing plugins

#8 2008-06-28 19:46:07

Re: repackaging/redistributing plugins

#9 2008-06-29 13:49:10

Re: repackaging/redistributing plugins

#10 2008-06-29 18:45:17

Re: repackaging/redistributing plugins

#11 2008-06-29 19:03:44

Re: repackaging/redistributing plugins

#12 2008-06-29 19:08:39

Re: repackaging/redistributing plugins

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