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More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

I don't understand why they have to be kicked out. Can't he just ask them to resubmit with rel=nofollow on the offending links?

There were actually closer to 300 themes removed, and it seems like less than 2% may have been a mistake. These are themes that never complied with the guidelines in the first place, they had just gotten in due to some lax review and we were correcting that. “Link crime” themes were maybe 5 of the 300 that were removed.

What does “with the same loss of custom for theme creators” mean?

All we're doing is choosing to host and promote things that follow the license that WordPress itself is under, namely the GPL. It is not ambiguous that the GPL gives you certain freedoms and when plugin or theme developers try to take these freedoms away from users we just don't want to promote them on our site. They can do whatever the heck they like, but they're not entitled to be promoted on WordPress.org. Users get confused when WP is completely open source and then they start using a theme they downloaded that requires they link to a refinancing or SEO site.

The theme directory (and plugin directory) are about providing a GPL-licensed free resources for a GPL-licensed and free product. You're still welcome to use a theme or plugin that isn't in the directory.

I'm still not clear on why WordPress.org should be required to promote and link things that violate its license, which seems to be what you and Duncan are suggesting.

Great perception Duncan, well crafted.

Now, what I don't understand is the mentioning the word 'Jihad' I mean its WordPress, Mullenweg,
and Automattic
whats the point of involving jihad in the matter?

Because Duncan is the king of unnecessary hyperbole. Did you even need to ask?

Just do a review of the headlines on this site! He's desperate to get this new project off the ground and no headline is too ridiculous.

Duncan, you have some good stuff to say, now and again. But stop being the douchebag sensationalist, for goodness sake.

Open Source does not mean Non-Profit. I think it is great that somebody is showing that you can profit from an open sourced application. If WP only wants to show GPL'd themes that meat certain criteria so be it. There are lot of other sites that offer WP themes other than WordPress.org. If you are building a legitimate site you will do your research and find a template that works for you or someone who can build on for you.

Hmm, says the guy unnecessarily using the world “douchebag”. Honestly, you lot really need to come up with some better insults, because that “highly amusing” phrase (I suppose it comes from the schoolboy mentality that thought it was funny to call someone something to do with vaginal cleansing?) is getting VERY tired.

Wow, Duncan, you really have a thing for Matt don't you? I'm not defending or criticizing Matt, just making an observation regarding your posts.

The terms of hosting a theme on WordPress,org is that the theme has to be GPL compatible.

If someone puts up a theme that says “you can't remove the links in the footer” (which makes it incompatible with the GPL), why would you object to the people hosting the repository booting those themes for violating the terms?

You definitely know how to create web sites, why don't you just create a premium theme showcase/repository yourself? That would let you put your money where your mouth is.

Or you could just keep complaining and keep up with your own “jihad” against all things Matt. That probably would be easier for you.

Matt, I completely support you and what you say here is how I understand it in the first place: WordPress.org won't hosting themes that are not GPL-compliant nor it won't be promoting sites that are not GPL-compliant. If somebody wants to sell quality premium themes, like those from WooThemes, they're absolutely free to do so. The issue is as simple as this.

IMO, the only themes that should be available for download @ WordPress.org would be free, open source themes.

Lately, I came across way too many advertising gigs, developers (which I respect!) that were advertising their not so free themes there.
If I want to download a theme from wordpress.org, I expect it's open source, it lets me do whatever I want with it (GNU)

I hate it when I see commercial themes in open source places. WordPress IS free, most of its plugins are free, and those who create paid themes should sell their creations on qualified sites, not advertise on WordPress.org.

So this Jihad as you call it, may be beneficial for the community, although I do agree, it will certainly backfire.
Especially if some of the removed themes WERE NOT premium/paid and showcased as a means of advertising…

couldn't agree more

Whoever wants to showcase their premium themes / not-open-source, can do it on their own website if their so good at making themes. Everyone else is secondary

No man, he can't.

Let me put it this way:
Let's say you have some open source project. You worked a lot getting it to be world renowned.
And you allow users to showcase implementations of your project on YOUR site, but under one decent condition : GPL, because your project is GPL and you love to help the community.

How would you then feel if people were complaining they cannot submit their non-GPL projects? Off of which they maybe even make money?
Wouldn't that cross with your vision, an open source platform?

How would you feel when people are asking you to promote their commercial products based on something you gave for free and even invested in???

Is it that hard to understand?

you are jealous