GPL license and wordpress.org

As you maybe know, I’m working on free WP theme these days. When it was finally ready the only problem left is license. I have licensed the free theme and it’s premium version as GPL but for reviewer on wordpress. org problem is that I have Themeforest themes not licensed as GPL.

I asked on wp Slack would that help if I remove links to Themeforest from my homepage website but didn’t get answer at the end. They just repeat that all themes I sell must be GPL compatible.

There was old discussion about that here: Themes should be 100% GPL – Make WordPress Themes where it is said they do not police people but only check links added to wordpress. org.

What is your opinion about licenses, especially if there are theme authors?

I will share my free WP theme here if it is not problem. The only reason version 1.0.2 is not on wordpress. org now is because of licensing. https://themes.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/268128

Not sure what to advise you I have the same issue with most plugins for one of them I had to create a free version and give it a new name… it sucks…

1 Like

Well, I did not face this issue yet, as I did not submit themes to wordpress.org yet, but I assume that their issue is with what you promote around the theme you submit. If your site clearly links to non-GPL ThemeForest stuff, it seems that they will not like it.

Easiest way through is to keep everything tied to your wp.org theme 100% GPL and avoid any visible connection to non-GPL products. Especially until you get approved. :slight_smile:

Let me know how this goes, if they approve you. If you get no response from them, just resubmit and wait, I guess.

Yes but this would mean to create a free version is difficult to update both free and payed version…