This is one of GNU-GPL FAQ’s:

If I distribute GPL’d software for a fee, am I required to also make it available to the public without a charge?

– No. However, if someone pays your fee and gets a copy, the GPL gives them the freedom to release it to the public, with or without a fee. For example, someone could pay your fee, and then put her copy on a web site for the general public.

If I know someone has a copy of a GPL-covered program, can I demand he give me a copy?

– No. The GPL gives him permission to make and redistribute copies of the program if he chooses to do so. He also has the right not to redistribute the program, if that is what he chooses.

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. You may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy, and you may at your option offer warranty protection in exchange for a fee.

Per that, you cannot charge a fee for the software but you can offer support and other services. Don’t get me wrong here, I am not trying to get something for free, I am just pointing out that I believe that the wording of the GPL prohibits from charging for the actual software.

Congratulations on taking this step. I’m sure it was not an easy decision.

In no way does the GPL or WordPress (Automattic) imply that charging is “not in the spirit of WordPress”. In fact I’ve had personal conversations with Matt Mullingweg directly along with Cory, Brian and others and never once has he even suggested that. In fact he’s more than happy to have people dedicating their time to improving the platform he helped build. This is evident by WordPress.org announcing they’re opening a Premium Theme directory very soon. The GPL clearly states that anyone who purchases the themes then has the same rights. Plain and simple!

Here is the link to the GPL on WordPress.org http://wordpress.org/about/gpl/ and let me quote a specific paragraph for you Bill…

“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.”

Matt along with anyone else closely associated with the industry knows that the added value premium theme/plugin developers bring is enormous.

Matt, WordPress and Automattic have taken funding from VC’s and make most of their current money off of WordPress.com. This is not an option for the average theme developer. So the question comes down to this Bill… are you prepared to see the decline of the platform if there were no premium themes? Sure everything will be free, but with no one enjoying the fruits of their work we’ll be right back at the shitty theme repository WordPress has had for the last few years.

Nothing wrong with innovation being rewarded. Otherwise I’d like to know what your job is and see how I can get you to do it for free everyday.

Sure there are other business models, but charging for themes is currently the most profitable and sound model. So please… next time think before you post and look at all the reasons someone is doing something. Cory has a team of great guys doing tons of hard work so questioning their legitimate business model to me is just obnoxious and rude especially when you haven’t done your homework on the reasons behind it or the industry in general.

I’ve been an entrepreneur for over 20 years and there are times when I gave things away for free or near free because I wanted to be nice but it didn’t pay the bills or feed a family. I’ve lost everything and I don’t expect any person (or want them to) end up on the street.

One also has to consider the MANY years of education and training, as well as equipment expenses we had to take on, in order to create these luxuries we now use. It wasn’t free.

Please remember that this country was founded on the ability to pursue free enterprise and that we all must do something to make a living — and hopefully these ventures will bring stability back to our economy.

We DO appreciate everyone’s input and it would be nice to just do things for free but it really isn’t feasible. All we ask is for all of our clients and friends in the WP community to see the story from all sides and see there can be a balance.

Thank you all!

Just a couple of things …. we’re totally in line with the thoughts of GPL and WordPress … that’s why I say, “read it for yourself.”

The primary issue was our licensing (non-GPL) … whether something should be free (price) or not is a PREFERENCE, totally. WordPress could charge for copies of the software, but they choose not to. (Thanks WP!)

I’d also say that if we went to free as in price, we wouldn’t be in a business in 2 months and all our customers and future ones would not have a quality theme resource, with great support like we and others (Brian, etc) offer.

Although I’d love an ideal world where we had the luxury of giving away everything for free, the practical reality is that we support 5 families through this business … and we love what we do and want to be here for the long term.

I’ve evaluated the other models I’ve seen and none of them are a risk I’d gamble all our futures on (including our customers), especially in the economic climate of today.

For those who think we could survive (and innovate like we’ve done with Flexx and others) on a totally free model, I have to scratch my head and wonder if they’ve thought through those statements entirely, or in my shoes as I think about bi-monthly payroll, health insurance and just keeping the lights on.

We don’t have venture capital money in the bank, we don’t have wealthy relatives who gave us billions, I don’t buy lottery tickets … and none of us want to go back to living with our parents.

Our significant others are pretty happy we’ve gone GPL but can still make a living doing all this.

And believe me, it’s a blast!!!

I hope our customers like you, Bill, know that these decisions aren’t taken lightly and are considered, weighed, thought through, debated for us AND you, our loyal customers.

Here’s to the future!!!!