Comments on: Revolution Themes is Going Open Source! http://wphacks.com/revolution-themes-is-going-open-source/ WordPress Themes, Plugins, Hacks, Tutorials, and more! Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:31:16 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ara Ohanian http://wphacks.com/revolution-themes-is-going-open-source/#comment-4299 Ara Ohanian Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:48:34 +0000 http://wphacks.com/?p=1176#comment-4299 who can help me with seting up the Options of it ??? who can help me with seting up the Options of it ???

]]> By: Kyle Eslick http://wphacks.com/revolution-themes-is-going-open-source/#comment-3167 Kyle Eslick Sun, 05 Oct 2008 02:02:15 +0000 http://wphacks.com/?p=1176#comment-3167 @ Rick - I don't think there is any confusion here by most people. The thing is, GPL is the open source license that Brian is using specifically because he wants to follow in the steps of WordPress. If he charges for a theme, but releases it under GPL, then everyone will just exchange it freely, negating a reason for anyone to ever buy the theme. I'm sure you can see why that would be a problem. As a result, it is only logical for someone to associate open source with free, as no business model could support it. Software like Firefox (which is open source) makes money from contracts with search engine, but the software itself is free to users. Brian will be following a similar business model, but will instead charge for the extras which aren't required. @ Rick – I don’t think there is any confusion here by most people. The thing is, GPL is the open source license that Brian is using specifically because he wants to follow in the steps of WordPress.

If he charges for a theme, but releases it under GPL, then everyone will just exchange it freely, negating a reason for anyone to ever buy the theme. I’m sure you can see why that would be a problem. As a result, it is only logical for someone to associate open source with free, as no business model could support it.

Software like Firefox (which is open source) makes money from contracts with search engine, but the software itself is free to users. Brian will be following a similar business model, but will instead charge for the extras which aren’t required.

]]> By: rick http://wphacks.com/revolution-themes-is-going-open-source/#comment-3166 rick Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:50:48 +0000 http://wphacks.com/?p=1176#comment-3166 And once again, the community confuses open source with Free. Brian *could* charge for his themes even while making them available under the GPL (and, note, the GPL is only one of the open source licenses). IN fact, the GPL explicitly allows this. He just would not be able to prohibit redistribution which, of course, makes charging more of an issue. But you CAN certainly sell OS software - let's stop confusing the 2 things. And once again, the community confuses open source with Free. Brian *could* charge for his themes even while making them available under the GPL (and, note, the GPL is only one of the open source licenses). IN fact, the GPL explicitly allows this. He just would not be able to prohibit redistribution which, of course, makes charging more of an issue. But you CAN certainly sell OS software – let’s stop confusing the 2 things.

]]> By: Stu McLaren http://wphacks.com/revolution-themes-is-going-open-source/#comment-3163 Stu McLaren Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:23:00 +0000 http://wphacks.com/?p=1176#comment-3163 I think Tim and Patrick bring up a couple good points. In fact, I spent some time discussing this openly on one of my blogs this morning (www.myideaguy.com/blog) and the two questions I asked were this: 1) Is it a smarter business model to “give away the premium theme and charge for support” vs. “charge for the theme and give free support”? Certainly Brian’s move indicates charging for support maybe the better idea. The other thing to think about is how this fits with the WordPress community as a whole. Does this mean that the WordPress community will frown upon people who sell complimentary products and services to WordPress users? It would certainly be a shame if that were to happen and I get the sense that there is a bit of relief from Brian that he doesn't have to deal with that pressure anymore. I guess we'll see :) At the end of the day I too feel that there will always be a percentage of people that are willing to pay for premium services and products. It will just be interesting to see how this plays out in the marketplace. Great discussion! I think Tim and Patrick bring up a couple good points. In fact, I spent some time discussing this openly on one of my blogs this morning (www.myideaguy.com/blog) and the two questions I asked were this:

1) Is it a smarter business model to “give away the premium theme and charge for support” vs. “charge for the theme and give free support”?

Certainly Brian’s move indicates charging for support maybe the better idea.

The other thing to think about is how this fits with the WordPress community as a whole.

Does this mean that the WordPress community will frown upon people who sell complimentary products and services to WordPress users?

It would certainly be a shame if that were to happen and I get the sense that there is a bit of relief from Brian that he doesn’t have to deal with that pressure anymore.

I guess we’ll see :)

At the end of the day I too feel that there will always be a percentage of people that are willing to pay for premium services and products.

It will just be interesting to see how this plays out in the marketplace.

Great discussion!

]]> By: Patrick K. O'Brien http://wphacks.com/revolution-themes-is-going-open-source/#comment-3165 Patrick K. O'Brien Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:22:56 +0000 http://wphacks.com/?p=1176#comment-3165 I agree with Tim. There is more to a theme than just the code itself. When buying a premium theme, people are also paying for regular updates and support. I'm not saying that can't be done in the open source world as I'm a big fan of open source. But I don't think it works for all users and many bloggers just want a theme that works and are willing to pay for someone else to maintain it and provide them with support. I agree with Tim. There is more to a theme than just the code itself. When buying a premium theme, people are also paying for regular updates and support. I’m not saying that can’t be done in the open source world as I’m a big fan of open source. But I don’t think it works for all users and many bloggers just want a theme that works and are willing to pay for someone else to maintain it and provide them with support.

]]> By: More Information About Revolution WordPress Themes http://wphacks.com/revolution-themes-is-going-open-source/#comment-3164 More Information About Revolution WordPress Themes Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:54:39 +0000 http://wphacks.com/?p=1176#comment-3164 [...] write two consecutive posts about the same subject, but I felt yesterday’s news about Revolution going open source only examined the shocking news of the new Revolution setup.   The other half of the story that I [...] [...] write two consecutive posts about the same subject, but I felt yesterday’s news about Revolution going open source only examined the shocking news of the new Revolution setup.   The other half of the story that I [...]

]]> By: Tim Norton http://wphacks.com/revolution-themes-is-going-open-source/#comment-3162 Tim Norton Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:20:08 +0000 http://wphacks.com/?p=1176#comment-3162 <blockquote>The idea of premium WordPress themes is okay, but I’ve never been 100% convinced that this business model will survive for more than a few years. Just like ebooks, premium themes can be distributed illegally and the whole concept kind of goes against the spirit of open source and WordPress.</blockquote> Kyle, I have to disagree. I don't see why it won't last. People will always pay for something they can't get for free. Revolution is good, but in my opinion, it's not the best available. Plus, if people bought the 'custom' versions or Revolution for $500, they certainly didn't do it because they could not find any free themes. Plus, the fact they can be distributed illegally just means they are good enough to steal. So are cars and they are even counterfitting rolex watches these days, and they are extremely close to the originals. I've never understood the concept that selling something goes against the open-source model. If it does, then the open source model is what won't last. Because business will go on as it always has. Anyway, interesting points!

The idea of premium WordPress themes is okay, but I’ve never been 100% convinced that this business model will survive for more than a few years. Just like ebooks, premium themes can be distributed illegally and the whole concept kind of goes against the spirit of open source and WordPress.

Kyle, I have to disagree. I don’t see why it won’t last. People will always pay for something they can’t get for free. Revolution is good, but in my opinion, it’s not the best available. Plus, if people bought the ‘custom’ versions or Revolution for $500, they certainly didn’t do it because they could not find any free themes. Plus, the fact they can be distributed illegally just means they are good enough to steal. So are cars and they are even counterfitting rolex watches these days, and they are extremely close to the originals. I’ve never understood the concept that selling something goes against the open-source model. If it does, then the open source model is what won’t last. Because business will go on as it always has.

Anyway, interesting points!

]]> By: Andrew. Virginia Attorney. http://wphacks.com/revolution-themes-is-going-open-source/#comment-3159 Andrew. Virginia Attorney. Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:53:54 +0000 http://wphacks.com/?p=1176#comment-3159 Awesome news! I'm a huge fan of Brian's work, so I'm excited to see what the new, open source version of Revolution. Cool! Awesome news! I’m a huge fan of Brian’s work, so I’m excited to see what the new, open source version of Revolution. Cool!

]]> By: Good move or bad move - thoughts? http://wphacks.com/revolution-themes-is-going-open-source/#comment-3161 Good move or bad move - thoughts? Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:05:34 +0000 http://wphacks.com/?p=1176#comment-3161 [...] move - thoughts? Hey Gang, I came across an article that kind of surprised me this morning... Revolution Themes is Going Open Source! Basically the guy who created the Revolution Themes has decided to make all his future WordPress [...] [...] move – thoughts? Hey Gang, I came across an article that kind of surprised me this morning… Revolution Themes is Going Open Source! Basically the guy who created the Revolution Themes has decided to make all his future WordPress [...]

]]> By: Susan http://wphacks.com/revolution-themes-is-going-open-source/#comment-3160 Susan Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:52:07 +0000 http://wphacks.com/?p=1176#comment-3160 Time to go buy one! Time to go buy one!

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