The Inquisitr - Latest Comments in More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

Re: More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

ron domba — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:55:20 -0000

you are jealous

Re: More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

Dr. Mike Wendell — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:56:46 -0000

He's done it before. When he booted the themes with sponsored links, he was caught doing it on his own sites. Not once, not twice but in fact there's links there now.

Re: More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

Elliot — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:35:10 -0000

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.

Re: More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

Jan Dembowski — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:36:41 -0000

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.

Edited: On second thought I'll take out a petty shot. But I am curious why you don't create a WordPress themes showcase/repository.

Re: More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

Andy — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:16:53 -0000

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.

Re: More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

nwilliam3 — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:18:41 -0000

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.

Re: More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

Alister Cameron // Blogologist — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:29:14 -0000

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.

Re: More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

ashrafism — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:09:29 -0000

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?

Re: More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

Ed — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:09:45 -0000

It seems WordPress.org feels premium theme designers are expendable.

"I’m not sure if it’s worth going through gymnastics to try and include these people, it’s only a handful of themes. The directory will be fine without them, and they’ll be fine without being in the directory," Matt said on my site.

Re: More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

Matt Mullenweg — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:04:30 -0000

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.

Re: More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

Ed — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:55:51 -0000

"Mullenweg should excuse himself from decisions within the WordPress community while he continues to profit from Automattic if he truly believes in open source..."

Here lies the heart of the problem and the solution. Just as Apple loves its vertical business linking iPhones to the Apps Store and iPods to iTunes, the WordPress software has taken on similar importance for Automattic.

Re: More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

Matt Mullenweg — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:54:35 -0000

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.

Re: More Hypocrisy from Mullenweg and WordPress with new themes jihad

m0nty — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:38:59 -0000

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?