Get More Free GPL WordPress Themes
According to the Software Freedom Law Center, the WordPress themes, being derivative works of WordPress should be licensed under version 2 of the GNU General Public License, except CSS and image files (art work). Software Freedom Law Center was performed a comprehensive analysis regarding the interaction between the PHP code, which is GPL and the WordPress template elements “called” through PHP routines and the conclusion is a little bit confusing at first sight:
“There is one exception. WordPress does reads CSS and image files to create previews of templates for the template selection portion of the administrative interface. Even in that case, though, nothing in those files calls any WordPress functions, is treated as a command by PHP, or alters any other WordPress data structure. These files are read as data and used to create an image and display a miniaturized version of a webpage to the user.”
But, in essence, WordPress executes various PHP routines in order to make available information for use by themes. The control is then transferred via PHP’s include() function to HTML and PHP templates existing in theme package files. The PHP code in those template files relies on the earlier-prepared information to fill the templates for serving to the client.
Software Freedom Law Center also mentioned: “Specifically, the CSS files and material contained in the images directory of the “default” theme are works separate from the WordPress code. On the other hand, the PHP and HTML code that is intermingled with and operated on by PHP the code derives from the WordPress code.”
Therefore, should we expect from now on more free GPL licensed WordPress themes? It’s really hard to answer to this question, because, given Software Freedom Law Center analysis, the entire structure of WordPress themes cannot be licensed under GPL in a forced manner. And let’s face it, after you work weeks and maybe month to graphics and CSS code attached to a WordPress themes, the license cannot be GPL in all cases.
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