I have closed this post, as discussion about this announcement can be made here. And I will be releasing a free theme here.
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[...] as my business grew, and rebranded to StudioPress, I purposely tried to shift some of the spotlight from my name to the themes themselves. [...]
Congratulations, I understand that legal issues a bit form being involved with http://www.ArtistsInsider.com , sounds like a great move.
Build To Last, a great book by http://www.JimCollins.com talks about how Sony (I am pretty sure that is the correct name) changed their name to Sony at one point, after being known very well within Japan, but knew they needed to change their name to go international.
May this change provide the same level of opportunities for you.
Thanks Jonathan, I do appreciate your comments. Sometimes you gotta take a hit when you’re new at the business game, and hopefully this transition will be smooth.
Wow, the site looks wonderful Brian and think you made the best decision possible for your business/company!! Trail by error…learning by doing.., so keep up the good work!! I am sad to hear that others took advantage for their personal gain..very very sad to hear that!!
Yeah, it is sad stuff about other people, but that’s the way it goes. As for the rebranding, if I could turn back time on decisions I made, I’d do it in a heartbeat!
Congrats Brian, all the best.
Thanks Prashant, I appreciate it!
Was curious if this would happen, but looking forward to it! Now I’m not sure about the legal reasons, and I do trust you when you say it needs to be done! – What I’m a little confused about is, will this not ’spoil’ the Revolution brand you are well known for?
Now I understand that you’re just rebranding them under another name, maybe I’m missing something, there’s a good chance I am! But anyway, I look forward on watching this progress, and see what else you’re upto!
Thanks
Mark
Mark, I won’t be “spoiling” it, rather “renaming” the brand that I am known for. Unfortunately it’s something that wise council has suggested I do, especially if I intent to continue developing themes and web projects.
I see what you’re saying Brian, and when I said ’spoil’ it was possibly too strong a word!… When you get advise from people who know what they are talking about 99.9% of the time it’s best to follow through with what they do say!
Most people will still remember you as the ‘Revolution Guy’ with his Premium WordPress Themes! – Keep up the good work, take care, and we’ll talk soon!
Thanks
Mark
Hi Brian,
is there any offers coming soon ?
No Offers, thanks perfect support no answer
never mind
In your post you stated that the themes are GPL however I do not see anywhere to download any of them.
GPL doesn’t only mean they are free. Just means the themes give you the same rights as Brian has. Here’s a quote directly from http://wordpress.org/about/gpl/… “When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things.”
Brian’s themes do fall within the guidelines for use under the GPL.
Congrats on the change Brian! Looking forward to all the cool, new projects you have in store.
As I read those words, I should be able to get the source code if I want (for free); as it is now, I can only get the source code if I pay for a theme package.
As Brian says: “It’s very sad to see how some people are misusing and abusing the license for their own personal gain”.
But isn’t that exactly what Brian is doing himself, by charging for the source code?
IF he was charging for the source code. .but he’s not. Service & design is what you’re paying for. I think it’s about time everybody who had anything to say in this matter did some serious research before stating such bold and inaccurate statements. But hey.. that’s just me.
If he’s not charging for the source code, how come it isn’t freely available? You can only get it when you buy a theme package.
As it was before you could get the source code for free, but had to pay if you wanted support (even though the download link was presented in very small letters, and easy to overlook). This was easy enough for me to understand.
But I simply don’t understand the (new) concept where you apparently have to buy the whole package even if you only want the (free) source code. Sorry, but I don’t think I’m the only one who can’t find the logic in this!
Amen brother. These guys will twist and twist the gpl to make it sound in their favor everything. I used to love Brians themes and there are those here who will defend his decision to charge for “support” time and time again. Fact is, he’s like a coke dealer. Gave them (us) some free samples, then dropped the hammer on us. I used his “free” theme for my business and promoted his themes for him, only to have him turn his back on me. Hey, I’m not against Brian making some money for his design and support, but that should’ve been made clear way up front. Sorry Brian, I’m just saying what a lot of people are thinking…Good luck just the same..
Mark, I understand what you are saying and why you feel the way you do. The bottom line when I changed licenses was that I wasn’t required at that point to make the themes freely available for download, as the GPL license doesn’t require that. I didn’t really get that at the time I changed, and that’s my fault for my own ignorance on the matter. When Matt cleared things up in an interview, I modified the way the site was presented.
I really wish people would stop bitching because they demand something (they don’t deserve) for free. If you want a product that is considered a premium over a free one then you should have no problem paying for it.
It gets so tiring listening to little whiners demanding they want their shit free. Brian owes you nothing! The beauty is if you don’t like a product or find something better than you’re free to do that and purchase that product, but this mentality of some people today that they’re entitled to someone else’s work for free is just plain messed up.
A great example to show how ridiculous these statements are is this… If I go to the same bar each day for a few months and the bartender decides he wants to offer me a free drink one day of course I’d accept. Now lets say the next day he does the same. Great right? Now lets say this nice bartender who frequently goes out of his way to help customers above and beyond what most others would do pretty much offers me a free drink each time I come in over the next couple months. Even better, right?
Now after a few months of this I come in one day and find out his business partner is leaving to go do something else and that he’s making a few changes around the bar. Well, that day I notice he doesn’t give me my free drink anymore. Same for the next. Now I can handle this two ways… 1. Talk to him to see how he’s doing and thank him personally for all the free drinks and tell him I really appreciate it. Or 2. I could say “Hey buddy, where’s my free drink you’ve been giving me each day? Apparently a couple people here have chosen to be the assholes at the end of the bar screaming “I’m entitled to my free drink!”
Anyone who doesn’t quite get it please read the GPL again directly from the WordPress site as it’s quite clear. http://wordpress.org/about/gpl/
@Bryan: You’re missing the point here. It’s obvious from your post that you’re one of those people who purchased a theme from Brian and that’s all good and well. That’s why your justifying that actions of Brian. Again, that’s all good and well. The fact is, Brian got his “following” by offering free themes. Then he charged for “support”. Again, that’s all good and well. A lot of people used his themes and promoted his themes which gave him even more followers/customers. Then he yanked the rug from beneath those who promoted him. Sure 60 or 70 dollars isn’t asking a whole lot for a theme, but again, that’s not the point. The whole process from the beginning stinks. Nobody is demanding squat! They were OFFERED THESE THEMES FOR FREE! Let me repeat, THEY WERE OFFERED THESE THEMES FOR FREE! Then they were offered the themes for free with the option to purchase support. Then all of that was taken away from them. And again, they didn’t demand or ask for anything, just a justification as to why they’re now being asked to pay for the source code which under the GPL is unacceptable. You sir is the one who needs to read and understand the meaning of GPL. Anyhow, I hope that you enjoy the theme or plan that you purchased from Brian, but at least get your facts straight before you blabber on and on about something you obviously know nothing about. What Mark and(the other) Michael said is 100% correct. Brian is obviously a great guy and this isn’t a punch at him, but what he did to his “base” is wrong, plain and simple.
Well as stated in the GPL link you posted
“You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Program’s source code as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you conspicuously and appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate copyright notice and disclaimer of warranty; keep intact all the notices that refer to this License and to the absence of any warranty; and give any other recipients of the Program a copy of this License along with the Program.”
So we can take that to mean we can release the templates as long as we credit the original author. Interesting…
Personally I don’t care if you are selling themes or giving them away and charging for support. I just don’t like the fact that he seems to be claiming one thing then doing another.
I believe that sums it up 100%…Say what you mean, mean what you say!
Cool, congrats on the name change.
Thanks Matt, appreciate the comment and thanks for dropping by!
Every best, Brian. I wouldn’t be too pessimistic about taking marketing hits – you already have a solid client base through Revolution who will follow you across. The re-branded Affiliate programme will do its bit to advertise for new customers and you’re well-established in what is, after all, a niche market. For my money, you’ll only go upwards – and I sincerely hope for yours ake that you do!
Thanks Lawrence, I appreciate the kind words and encouragement. It’s always tough to shed something that has defined you for years, but I’m hoping that moving forward the community around my themes will understand and be happy to know there is more in the pipeline!
I’m still in law school so I don’t know the particulars of any legal reasons why you might want to do this, but if you feel it needs to be done, there’s no time like the present. You can always build a brand going forward.
I think you’re doing a great job focusing on what you do best. It’s worth considering also that with the new brand could come some new features. One of the things that I’ve done as a designer (using your themes) is to create websites that include members only areas, separate logins for clients to access their special page (use a plugin to redirect users to a different page from dashboard, as well as custom desingning the wp-login.php page). I think if you could maybe capitalize on plugins like role-scooper (or Dislocse Secret) etc, you could create a theme geared towards a whole different level of CMS buyers.
I think a great idea too would be to create a Multi-User Wordpress version of StudioPress, where the only themes available are Revolution/StudioPress brand themes. You could combine hosting services with your other needs.
But those are just my rambling thoughts! What you’re are doing is great. And when it aint broke, don’t fix it. Just some food for thought though.
Finally. I like the StudioPress!!! I love it. You always be the frontier. Good job and good luck!
The new name and site looks great.
You can change the name 100 times but if your work remains the same then you´ll keep succeeding.
Very interesting. Best of luck.
I may be in contact, I saw some ideas I really liked on the Agent 2.0 theme.
Good luck with the new business. I am sure you will do well continuing with the foundation you have built.
Love the new name; I think you will make the transition very nicely. Now for a a tough question:
1. Can you answer the question posed by Michael above who correctly observes that he should be able to get a copy of the GPL code for free if he wants, yet there does not appear to be anywhere on the site that provides such access to the code. I don’t see how you can say the code is GPL yet you seem to be treating it as if it were closed source. Can you please explain that?
Best regards,
Jim S.
The GPL license states very clearly that you can charge for the code/software. From the GPL page “When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price.” Yes, when I changed models last year, in theory I wasn’t required to make the themes available on my site, but I did. More than anything out of ignorance to the license at that point.
“When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price.”
That’s a very fuzzy sentence!
The very next words in the text says:
“Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things.”
As I understand this text, you are not allowed to charge for the software/source code, but only for the distribution of it (and if that’s what you are doing, peace be with that, I just think that it’s a pretty high price for distribution, then!)
I’m not just saying this because I can’t get the themes for free. I know your work well, as I’ve been following your themes and their progress for a couple of years now, and if I wanted one of your themes I would have no problem paying for it! But what I really don’t understand is the text in the GPL (and yes, I’ve read it carefully many times, and I’ve also heard about the Matt Mullenweg interview, but I’m sorry; I still don’t get it!)
Michael, I think you did a poor job at reading the GPL, if you did. Check out the FAQ for a better understanding of what was said in the GPL. Your view on the GPL has been twisted and is not accurate at all. In particular check out: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#DoesTheGPLRequireAvailabilityToPublic
The GPL makes clear that you can charge for the product under the GPL (in this case WordPress Themes), but you can not have additional fees for people who received the product from you to get the non-compiled product, often referred to as source code. In this case the product in not compiled and doesn’t need to be, so the customer automatically gets the source code… meaning the source code is freely available and the rights of the customer (receiver of the product) have been meet.
It also states, and is cleared up by the GPL FAQ, that the source code and or the product (in the case of compiled programs) does not need to be made available to the general public.
Hope this clears things up a little.
Thank you for setting me straight!
The license itself is written in such a way that it is quite difficult (at least for someone who doesn’t have English as their first language!) to understand. The FAQ is much easier to understand, and I hadn’t read that, I must admit.
I have read the FAQ now, and apologize if I sounded a bit cocksure; you are of course right.
Nothing in the GPL says that you are not allowed to charge for the software/source code. It just says, what you are allowed to do with the programm (e.g. get it’s source code) when you bought it.
Congratulations. I look forward to what’s in store…
Thanks for the awesome themes and great support!
Steve
Thanks Steve – totally appreciate that!
How will this affect your collaboration with (Jason Schuller and others)?
Jason has decided to work on some independent projects, mainly Press75, so this basically means that my team is now separate from what he’s doing. Jason and I are still close friends, and there wasn’t any kind of falling out.
GPL issues or not, the amount of money that Brian charges for his theme support packages is trivial and we all know that. We also know that it takes a lot of time, energy and effort to build, update and support these themes, especially in the professional manner that we have come to expect from Brian and his team.
How hard is it to understand that the more successful StudioPress becomes, the more likely his customers and the entire WordPress community will continue to benefit with new theme releases, upgraded features and improved code techniques?
Brian has continually taken the high road when it comes to making decisions that affect his customers. I can’t think of any other business owner that has been more transparent and open about his business.
Your money is well spent.
I agree that Brian’s themes are a good value. That’s why I ponied up for the deluxe package of all themes and support. However, since the software is GPL, would it not be possible for anyone who pays the fees charged here to make the code available to others for any price, or no price at all? This is what the GPL says about verbatim copies:
4. Conveying Verbatim Copies.
You may convey verbatim copies of the Program’s source code as you
receive it, in any medium, provided that you conspicuously and
appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate copyright notice;
keep intact all notices stating that this License and any
non-permissive terms added in accord with section 7 apply to the code;
keep intact all notices of the absence of any warranty; and give all
recipients a copy of this License along with the Program.
You may charge any price or no price for each copy that you convey,
and you may offer support or warranty protection for a fee.
When I made my earlier post I was under the impression that Brian had an obligation to post free copies of the themes, but after reviewing the GPL I realized this was not so. He is free to charge whatever he likes for the software, and does not have to provide access to a free copy. But the thing about open source software is that anyone who receives it has the right to convey it to others. That is how the software becomes “free” (as in liberated).
You may recall that when Brian set up the RevolutionTwo site and went open source he did include links to obtain the themes for free, if that was what someone wanted. Those themes came without support though. If Brian chooses not to make the GPL themes available for download for free, then it seems obvious that someone else will do so. Therefore, it wold seem to be the smart move for him to simply anticipate that fact and make a free copy available on his site.
Someone may very well attempt to redistribute Brian’s themes but would they really want to build a sustainable business model around that?
Also, I’m always suspect about software that doesn’t come from the original source. Someone could easily insert a backdoor, malicious code, advertisements, links, etc. Most people don’t have the time or expertise to sort through the theme code and make sure it’s 100% safe.
I don’t see the urgency to get ahead of a problem that doesn’t even exist.
Hello Brian, Peace!
I wish that God keeps on blessing your live, and also the new phase that you have just started with StudioPress. We are praying for you.
In Christ!
Your brother,
Minister Richard Moreno
Sao Paulo, Brazil.
I’ve recently written a users’ guide to Branford Magazine. Now, people are asking me to do the same for Revolution.
(See comments at http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-special-offers-forum/58166-wordpress-magazine-style-themes-made-easy.html)
I’m not sure if I want to tackle that project. It’d be huge.
But, before I even consider it, I want to see how you’d feel about me doing that. If this project would undercut your income or otherwise bother you… well, I try to maintain a strict personal moral code in my work.
It’s more about the principle than about the GPL rights.
Thoughts?
Hi,
I have downloaded your church theme few months back when you offered it for free download and using it on few of my sites. I tried to download the new updated version from your site today and found that we cannot download unless we pay. So, I am wondering whether I can continue using your themes on my sites or not. I am quite new to all these. please clarify.
Congrats and all the best
thanks
What the hell happened to your company going open source and Revolution2 being a paid theme at WordPress.org? Your theme’s ad is no longer there Brian, why not?
See image of your ad here: http://justintadlock.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/revolution-ad-wordpress.png
Hello Brian,
I purchased a revolution theme and I am now hoping to upgrade to Word Press 2.7.1 – could tell me if the theme I purchased would still work or needs any upgrade. I hope you can provide a quick response. Please, let me know what to do next if anything is required to make sure the template works fine with the new version of Word Press.
Regards,
German C.
Is there a repository of these themes available elsewhere for free download? The GPL certainly allows free distribution by others, and modification/redistribution, with the provisos about retaining copyright notices of course.