Are WordPress.org culturally anti-business?

[davecoveney]

We had Dovetail rejected from the WordPress repository because in the readme file it mentions that we can customise themes, or create custom themes.

Now, I'm not going to make a fuss about this - we'll just remove the line. Frankly, nobody really reads these files - especially in these days of auto-installed themes. However, it does make me wonder about whether or not WordPress.org is culturally anti-business?

After all, they don't like themes with links to sponsors or sites offering non-GPL services (regardless of whether those services are correct within the GPL or not) and the listing of commercial themes clubs took a long time to happen in a satisfactory way and not without a fair amount of bad feeling and arguments beforehand.

So it makes me wonder if, really, we as a business simply aren't that welcome? Should we look into other platforms where we may feel a bit more wanted? Contributing to the project is expensive and time consuming, but we get a lot back too... but do we get enough back compared to just spending a few £k on Expression Engine licences or similar?

I'd be interested in hearing other people's thoughts. And I don't want to make it an argument because that's what it is. My own feelings are pretty neutral - I just want to know what the general feeling is so that a: we don't rub people up the wrong way and b: we can make sensible and appropriate business decisions.

[JohnM]

I think your theme is rejected because of a policy that tries to avoid entrepreneurs from making 100 themes with small changes to do link marketing of products. Its somethng we have to live with to avoid gaming of the repository.

I dont think that business is unvelcomed but since there are so many greyhat marketeers on the web the policy have to be very restrictive.

When it comes to business and marketing in the theme repository, remember that the repository will only be a minor part of your marketing mix anyway, and that youre not getting unfair competition from other businesses gaming the system.

What I lack is a collaboration between WP businesses and Automattic to grow the market for WP services. Off course this collaboration must be inititated by the businesses, not WP/Automattic.

There are workarounds for the info you want to provide: Put the info in a extended tutorial/documentation readme.html and reference the readme.html in the readme.txt.

[davecoveney]

Interesting feedback and ideas there.

I can understand the idea of having to avoid people gaming the system, but I didn't feel that a line offering custom services was particularly heavy marketing.

I suppose you're right about the number of greyhats - I think they're damaging the web, sometimes. And it's hard to come up with hard and fast rules - especially when everything is essentially free, as it makes the possibility of getting all those links out there pretty tempting for marketeers.

[JohnM]

I can understand the idea of having to avoid people gaming the system, but I didn't feel that a line offering custom services was particularly heavy marketing.

The same readme.txt as in the download on your site ?

I have some particular interest in this discussion as I do have some commercial themes coming, together with their non-commercial versions for the respiratory, and I wonder on how to use WP.org for marketing the correct way. Check your PM.

[DD32]

Did you miss the recent shit-fight over GPL themes / deleted themes from repo / What the repo should actually host by any chance?

It was fought to death by all, And in the end, it was basically decided that themes on wordpress.org were going to be purely free, no advertisements, no links to sites selling themes (Often those sites would release a few free themes linking to their paid theme pages), etc..

Not sure if you've seen this showcase of Commercially supported GPL themes which was created after all this: http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/commercial/

[JohnM]

Should we look into other platforms where we may feel a bit more wanted? Contributing to the project is expensive and time consuming, but we get a lot back too... but do we get enough back compared to just spending a few £k on Expression Engine licences or similar?

From a business/marketing point of view you should definitively look into other platforms than WordPress. Its just sound business strategy cause the WP market could change anyways, and as a business you must be prepared for market changes. Your core business is probably php & webdev not WP services.

Much of the criticism of WordPress.org about lack of inclusion for commercial themes/services are due to businesses being too product orientated in their marketing strategies. The businesses needs better marketing strategies, to cope with a changing market.

[Jeffro]

Just wondering Dave, did you have a chance to talk with Matt face to face at WordCamp UK?

[Len]

Did you miss the recent shit-fight over GPL themes / deleted themes from repo / What the repo should actually host by any chance?

davecoveney didn't miss it, he was in the middle of it.

[Rarst]

One of my least favorite aspects of WordPress is when stuff gets political. I mean it's wonderful open source engine to use, but as soon as things are out of tech area it is suddenly catfight.

I don't think WP is anti-business. For myself I formulate situation as "WP developers act in best interest of open source and community, except that only they get to define what that interest is".

It isn't really split into business or not. It is split into sharing developers' views or not sharing them. That is why GPL is constantly flaming topic with WP. Situation is not clear for GPL and language such as PHP... and developers only accept interpretation that suits their views.

Strictly IMHO.

[chipbennett]

We had Dovetail rejected from the WordPress repository because in the readme file it mentions that we can customise themes, or create custom themes.

That decision is absolute, utter (Barbara Streisand). There is nothing inherently wrong with promoting yourself or your business, or mentioning the services you offer in such a manner.

Now, I'm not going to make a fuss about this - we'll just remove the line. Frankly, nobody really reads these files - especially in these days of auto-installed themes. However, it does make me wonder about whether or not WordPress.org is culturally anti-business?

I'm not sure if the moderator who rejected your theme is part of this group, but the GPL/FOSS zealots are, indeed, culturally anti-business. To them, the GPL is more than a business tool, it is a philosophy and a way of life.

Again, I don't know the persuasion of the decision maker, but the decision certainly reeeks.