Although this may sound like a little bit of a rant I’m sure anyone who makes or distributes free wordpress themes will agree with me on this simple point of etiquette.
If you download a free wordpress theme please leave the credit link intact. It’s only fair and the right thing to do.
The reason for this post is a rather terse email I received earlier today. A request, in fact it was more like a demand or even a threat, for help with one of the Upstart Blogger free wordpress themes. Here’s a quick quote.
I can’t find the place to change the text. If you don’t help me I’ll use another theme for my blog.
I was flabbergasted. However the best was yet to come.
I visited the blog in question, more out of curiousity than anything else since I don’t respond to threats, to find that the credit link back to Upstart Blogger had been removed.
Unbelievable.
If you using one of the Upstart Blogger wordpress themes then, as I have already said, please leave the link intact. If you choose to remove it then don’t expect any support or help.
If you think I’m being unreasonable in his request then please feel free to leave a comment below.
Hi Ashley
Unbelievable! You probably know I bought a Real Estate theme on sitepoint and when i decided not to use it for a personal site i decided to give it away for free download. Exactly the same… it was rather complex to setup so I got all these support questions and from ALL the people who asked for support ALL of them had removed the copyright link in the footer!
NO LINK! NO SUPPORT! …good campaign!
I completely disagree. In fact, in my most recent theme I’ve made the footer text a theme option so the credit can be easily removed and still leave things safe for theme upgrades.
And I still provide support.
That’s a completely stupid threat however. If it’s meant as a threat. It might not have been meant that way. Emotions always seem amplified in emails. It may have been a simple statement of fact.
I’m constantly amazed by how people think its OK these days to expect the world for free – not just no money changing hands, but no credit as well! Do they think it’s their right to pass off other people’s hard work as their own (and expect you to help them too!!)? Good on you for your campaign, but its shame that its even necessary.
How do i remove the credits from the footer?:)
While threatening anyone the way you were is not the best approach to receiving help in any situation, i think there are some valid reasons while people remove links from the footer. I list those reasons and how they benefit both Bloggers and Theme Authors at WordpresssTheme.ca (Scroll down to where the page content is)
I have to admit, I did remove the credit link from my free layout, since I changed it completely and used it only as a frame of reference. I did, however, put the link on my links page so that everyone could access that information if they were looking for it.
What would you allow in that situation?
@Ian But isn’t that your personal theme releasing choice?, as most people build their businesses, traffic and reputations using these exact links don’t you think it at least courteous to leave the link in if requested by the author of the theme?
No link = no support. I myself know my way around the template files well enough to change anything I need to change. I’ve never actually e-mailed an author asking for help with something as I’ve always been able to fix it on my own. Which usually leads to the theme becoming so changed that it no longer is the theme that it was but an entirely new entity.
But I agree with you.
As a photographer, I see a very similar parallel here. Some photographers are paranoid and watermark everything and paste copyright notices all over – and that’s their choice – they’re most likely making a living off their photos. But for me, the stuff I put on the web is meant to be out there and viewed – I don’t care if people “steal” it b/c I’m giving it away. If they went and put their own credit on it, then that would cross the line, but I feel like the less of a control freak you are on the internet the better off you’ll be.
I agree with Ian Stewart – its hard to read tone in an email. But I do find it amusing that people think they can hold themselves hostage to get what they want. Pretty lame.
Oops! I mean I completely disagree in general. If Ashley wants to make that a support term and make that abundantly clear, that’s cool. I just really don’t think it’s such a big deal, taking the credit off. Most people leave the credit and the people that do want to remove the credit do just that.
I agree with no link = no support. If they knew enough to remove the link, they are on their own.
@Ian I use your domain parker theme. I change the graphic but leave the footer link. I think its a great theme but it wouldn’t be found otherwise
if you don’t pay for the theme, you should leave the link in tact. It’s a courtesy to people who give stuff away for free. It also allows other users to connect with the guy who made you site what it is.
the issue is that a lot of people are using free software to make money. They remove the link to give the impression that they came up with the idea all by themselves. I remove some footer links, but I also link back in other ways like posts and link lists. Sometimes I remove the footer entirely and put my own information.
but that threat – and it was a threat – is ridiculous. I get them ALL the time. guess what, you get ignored. I don’t care if you use my theme or not. in fact, you should start posting these emails, with the name and address of the jerk.
I agree, anyone who removes the footer link from a free theme is a hoser. And demanding support for a free theme is even worse.
im agree too, after all you are using free themes, if you want to modify you will have to buy your own themes.
Nice post. Keep it up. Please some more like this.
No link = no support is very reasonable. Those are YOUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS (not threats as some may view them) – and there’s nothing wrong with that.
But I think many list their favourite theme makers in Blogroll. If you still can’t find that there, you have all rights not to give support.
Whenever I mention i got or downloaded something from somewhere for free, I try to post details of the original contributor (unless that info isn’t provided to me). It’s only courtesy to give credit to those who helped you.
Keep up the good post yo!