Comments on: WordPress Banning Sponsored WP Themes http://www.meridiancrest.com/wordpress-banning-sponsored-themes/ Helping Your Customers Find You Online! Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:51:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mark http://www.meridiancrest.com/wordpress-banning-sponsored-themes/comment-page-1/#comment-507 Mark Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:35:29 +0000 http://meridiancrest.tmtesting.com/?p=111#comment-507 @ Nick la Just for your records, most of the themes that are copied today are popular old themes contributed by Headsetoptions, Sadish Bala, Andreas Viklund, Kaushal Sheth and so on....so, if a new sponsored theme is a ripoff/copy of an old sponsored theme, you are right, let's remove all sponsored themes, the ripoffs as well as the originals if that's the most intelligent way of controlling ripoffs:) @ Scot I agree with you. The votes on sponsorships are divided, but I'm sure none of us would be debating whether ripoffs should be removed or not. I have prepared an Excel report of ripoffs in the past 4 months with Headsetoptions.org, and have been speaking on this issue for a while now. We don't expect appreciation, but if we are criticized for our efforts to bring attention to other important issues, then there is no motivation left for us to work towards them. Unfortunately, 1. The rating system was removed after many were hurt repeatedly. 2. The first sponsored theme was released on May 2nd, 2006, we had no objection to embedded links when the number of themes were less. 3. As of today, there are only about 100 ripoffs, so it's a non-issue for many. This debate is pointless, because WordPress is Matt's monopoly, it's not a democracy where we all are jumping in to vote. Let's just hope that something good will come out of it. Thanks for contacting me, hope this helps! @ Nick la

Just for your records, most of the themes that are copied today are popular old themes contributed by Headsetoptions, Sadish Bala, Andreas Viklund, Kaushal Sheth and so on….so, if a new sponsored theme is a ripoff/copy of an old sponsored theme, you are right, let’s remove all sponsored themes, the ripoffs as well as the originals if that’s the most intelligent way of controlling ripoffs:)

@ Scot

I agree with you. The votes on sponsorships are divided, but I’m sure none of us would be debating whether ripoffs should be removed or not.

I have prepared an Excel report of ripoffs in the past 4 months with Headsetoptions.org, and have been speaking on this issue for a while now. We don’t expect appreciation, but if we are criticized for our efforts to bring attention to other important issues, then there is no motivation left for us to work towards them.

Unfortunately,
1. The rating system was removed after many were hurt repeatedly.
2. The first sponsored theme was released on May 2nd, 2006, we had no objection to embedded links when the number of themes were less.
3. As of today, there are only about 100 ripoffs, so it’s a non-issue for many.

This debate is pointless, because WordPress is Matt’s monopoly, it’s not a democracy where we all are jumping in to vote. Let’s just hope that something good will come out of it.

Thanks for contacting me, hope this helps!

]]> By: JTk http://www.meridiancrest.com/wordpress-banning-sponsored-themes/comment-page-1/#comment-506 JTk Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:34:13 +0000 http://meridiancrest.tmtesting.com/?p=111#comment-506 It's Matt's site and he can do what he wants with it as far as I am concerned. Sponsored themes still have their place and I don't need Matt to help me distribute mine. If he wants to help me get the word out about them, cool. If not, a significant number of people will still find my free themes. Of course none of my free themes are sponsored - but if someone wants to sponsor a new one just let me know and I'll hook you up :) It’s Matt’s site and he can do what he wants with it as far as I am concerned. Sponsored themes still have their place and I don’t need Matt to help me distribute mine.

If he wants to help me get the word out about them, cool. If not, a significant number of people will still find my free themes.

Of course none of my free themes are sponsored – but if someone wants to sponsor a new one just let me know and I’ll hook you up :)

]]> By: Scot http://www.meridiancrest.com/wordpress-banning-sponsored-themes/comment-page-1/#comment-505 Scot Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:25:18 +0000 http://meridiancrest.tmtesting.com/?p=111#comment-505 SP, I've read and commented on your blog. I think you give a very unbiased and balanced review of the situation. I see a few others going heavy-headed, though. BT, I'm always thinking of new ideas. I think it's a good thing, though. Bob, Thanks for stopping by. Your themes look great-- would be interested if you had any more input on the subject. SP,
I’ve read and commented on your blog. I think you give a very unbiased and balanced review of the situation. I see a few others going heavy-headed, though.

BT,
I’m always thinking of new ideas. I think it’s a good thing, though.

Bob,
Thanks for stopping by. Your themes look great– would be interested if you had any more input on the subject.

]]> By: Bob http://www.meridiancrest.com/wordpress-banning-sponsored-themes/comment-page-1/#comment-504 Bob Fri, 13 Jul 2007 08:01:28 +0000 http://meridiancrest.tmtesting.com/?p=111#comment-504 Great post :) Great post :)

]]> By: Business Twins http://www.meridiancrest.com/wordpress-banning-sponsored-themes/comment-page-1/#comment-503 Business Twins Fri, 13 Jul 2007 06:27:06 +0000 http://meridiancrest.tmtesting.com/?p=111#comment-503 Scot, Yea, I currently am trying to start up a couple of other things before I even think about doing the wphelper website. But I was thinking about just creating something and updating it once in a while, then try to flip it later. Scot,
Yea, I currently am trying to start up a couple of other things before I even think about doing the wphelper website. But I was thinking about just creating something and updating it once in a while, then try to flip it later.

]]> By: Small Potato http://www.meridiancrest.com/wordpress-banning-sponsored-themes/comment-page-1/#comment-502 Small Potato Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:51:32 +0000 http://meridiancrest.tmtesting.com/?p=111#comment-502 Hey Scot - Thanks for bringing my attention to your post. I have not been keeping up with the WP community because I had dedicated server problems to deal with. Anyway, I've written something about this topic <a href="http://www.wpdesigner.com/2007/07/12/one-more-time-about-sponsored-themes-and-wordpress-community/">here</a>. Hey Scot – Thanks for bringing my attention to your post. I have not been keeping up with the WP community because I had dedicated server problems to deal with. Anyway, I’ve written something about this topic here.

]]> By: Scot http://www.meridiancrest.com/wordpress-banning-sponsored-themes/comment-page-1/#comment-501 Scot Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:31:11 +0000 http://meridiancrest.tmtesting.com/?p=111#comment-501 I'd never really thought of it that way, Nick. You're probably right though. Maybe they should crack down on copyright infringement instead? Once you bring money into anything it is bound to cause corruption... Twin, That might work out well. I've been thinking of creating something similar also... Probably won't have enough time to do so though. I’d never really thought of it that way, Nick. You’re probably right though. Maybe they should crack down on copyright infringement instead? Once you bring money into anything it is bound to cause corruption…

Twin,
That might work out well. I’ve been thinking of creating something similar also… Probably won’t have enough time to do so though.

]]> By: Business Twins http://www.meridiancrest.com/wordpress-banning-sponsored-themes/comment-page-1/#comment-500 Business Twins Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:17:16 +0000 http://meridiancrest.tmtesting.com/?p=111#comment-500 I just read on a fellow bloggers site that he made over 2000 dollars buying themes and then getting people to buy links on them. There is good money to be made doing this. On the other hand I have the domain name wphelper.com and was thinking about making a wordpress site that has helpful information such as installing themes, how to upgrade, how to install plugins, as well as a good forum. I've been to the official wordpress site, and that is just not user friendly. I just read on a fellow bloggers site that he made over 2000 dollars buying themes and then getting people to buy links on them. There is good money to be made doing this.

On the other hand I have the domain name wphelper.com and was thinking about making a wordpress site that has helpful information such as installing themes, how to upgrade, how to install plugins, as well as a good forum. I’ve been to the official wordpress site, and that is just not user friendly.

]]> By: Nick La http://www.meridiancrest.com/wordpress-banning-sponsored-themes/comment-page-1/#comment-499 Nick La Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:29:26 +0000 http://meridiancrest.tmtesting.com/?p=111#comment-499 I agree, I think we should ban those sponsored themes completely. Most of the sponsored themes I've seen are actually stolen from other designs. I agree, I think we should ban those sponsored themes completely. Most of the sponsored themes I’ve seen are actually stolen from other designs.

]]> By: J David http://www.meridiancrest.com/wordpress-banning-sponsored-themes/comment-page-1/#comment-498 J David Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:57:45 +0000 http://meridiancrest.tmtesting.com/?p=111#comment-498 Well that kinda sucks. I mean, I didn't have my themes sponsored yet, but I was considering it... Well that kinda sucks. I mean, I didn’t have my themes sponsored yet, but I was considering it…

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