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Don’t Use My Site Design

From time to time people ask if they can use my site design for their site. The answer is always no.

Please respect this, I get ornery when I discover someone using my work without permission (like I just did). It’s rude and it’s also illegal.

I host over 80 WordPress styles and 135 WordPress themes that you are free to use and modify; please choose one of them or one of the countless other site templates available for free on the web.

Thanks.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Posted September 21st, 2004 @ 3:18 PM

13 Replies

Joost Schuur adds this Comment:

That raises an interesting question: Are the WordPress styles free to be used by people for other blogging software, assuming they go through the work of adapting them to their own template format?

September 21st, 2004 at 4:00 pm
Alex adds this Comment:

(as listed on the page) The WordPress styles are licensed under the GPL.

September 21st, 2004 at 4:02 pm
Joost Schuur adds this Comment:

Aparently, I can’t read. Thanks for pointing that out

There’s some really great designs there.

September 21st, 2004 at 4:06 pm
Anonymous adds this Comment:

who would want to steal this design when there are so many cool-looking templates around? people are weird.

September 21st, 2004 at 4:26 pm
Alex adds this Comment:

I know, that’s what I’m saying!

September 21st, 2004 at 5:25 pm
Seth Thomas Rasmussen adds this Comment:

The laziness of some people is astounding. It’s not like you reinvented the wheel, or really much of anything, if anything, for this layout. What sorry sap couldn’t do it themselves? Don’t protect them, shame them… shaaaaame theeeeeeemmmmmmm!!!

September 21st, 2004 at 5:53 pm
Anonymous adds this Comment:

Hey Alex, I guess you already saw this one:

http://madcow.is-a-geek.com/

September 22nd, 2004 at 12:42 am
MC adds this Comment:

Yes I would be the one Alex is refering to. And I didn’t mean it to tend harm, but to learn from.

Sorry for aall this, I just wish to learn more about makeing themes with CSS and how they work. I have gone though many themes and from my post on my blog that is obius I am just learning and working on it…

And Alex, even though your blog is using wordpress and this theme… it is not under the GPL??? How is this?

I am new to the linux side (”good side”) and have not learned all the things about it, bu does the GPL not mean people can take that code and use it? as well as change it?

September 22nd, 2004 at 4:51 pm
Alex adds this Comment:

My intent wasn’t to single anyone out, this happens about once a month or so.

No, the design for this site is certainly not released under the GPL (it isn’t released period). I’d recommend reading up on the GPL and what it means.

September 22nd, 2004 at 4:57 pm
Jon Princton adds this Comment:

Interesting, but it’s wrth noting Alex that while techncally illegal, it is *impossible* to successfully prosecute for copyright infringment involving web design. Why? Because we’re talking about common layout and a tiny colour/font pallet.

If someone stole your logo you’d have a case. Your site is fair game. I know, I’m a lawyer.

September 22nd, 2004 at 5:17 pm
MC adds this Comment:

So you could say, its more of a crudity copyright.

September 22nd, 2004 at 6:42 pm
Ken adds this Comment:

Love the site layout Alex, I’m almost done copying it for my mt blog. Thanks again.

September 22nd, 2004 at 8:21 pm
Alex adds this Comment:

Ha, ha.

Jon, that may be true but there are a number of practical recourses. For example, most ISPs will take down a site if someone is distributing copyrighted work without permission.

September 22nd, 2004 at 8:25 pm

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