Free Theme Redesigning

No derivative themes (based on pre-existing themes or designs) are allowed in the Theme Repo. So I’m pretty sure that will be a “No” to both questions.

If I build my own psd, html, css files from scratch and use only the back-end part of another theme?

In previous thread you said I can redesign the Twenty Eleven and upload it to the repository https://www.ads-software.com/support/topic/hosting-gpl-themes-licensing-links-to-my-blog-themefores?replies=11

Why is it different with another free GPL theme?
I will build my own psd, html, css files from scratch and use only the back-end part of another theme.

you said I can redesign the Twenty Eleven and upload it to the repository

No I didn’t. Please re-read what I (and others) said.

This is from previous thread

Jan Dembowski:
Being able to modify code is what the GPL is about but the other people who have writen that code deserve recognition.

esmi:
Exactly what is and what isn’t acceptable is determined by the Theme Review Guidelines and the theme review team. New themes that are derived from pre-existing themes tend to be judged on a case-by-case basis.

So basically I cannot upload a theme if it is based on another GPL theme?
Even if I write everywhere including in the description page something like:

Source and credits:
?Special thanks to the WordPress team(https://www.ads-software.com/extend/themes/profile/wordpressdotorg) who build the Twenty Eleven theme(https://www.ads-software.com/extend/themes/twentyeleven).

This way I will give credits to the people who created the original theme. Isn’t that enough?

I’m sorry if those are silly questions but I am confused and I don’t completely understand what I can and can’t do.

Thanks.

I’m sorry if those are silly questions but I am confused and I don’t completely understand what I can and can’t do.

They’re not silly questions, and you are free to do what you like. BUT you really just need to read what Esmi wrote.

No derivative themes (based on pre-existing themes or designs) are allowed in the Theme Repo. So I’m pretty sure that will be a “No” to both questions.

Make your changes to a GPL theme, host them on your web site, distribute them as you see fit without any restrictions that would conflict with the GPL. Have fun with it. ??

But that does not mean the www.ads-software.com theme repository has to/must/is obliged to host derivative themes based on pre-existing themes or designs. They want to host original works and that’s fine.

Just being GPL doesn’t obligate other people to distribute your derivative theme or work.

And if you think about it, permitting that would really water down the quality of themes here. Someone could just modify one file on a theme or change the colors in the CSS and there would be hundreds of themes like that.

Think of the theme reviewers and their families! Those poor reviewers, all those derivative themes…

*Sips more coffee*

Note: If you understand and “get” CSS (I sure entirely don’t) then just start from scratch. Make it 100% your work, you’ll learn more that way and you’ll get a ton of satisfaction.

Plus, your original GPL’ed masterpiece that you wrote yourself instead of modifying an existing theme will probably then qualify to be hosted on www.ads-software.com’s repo. ??

Can the link to woothemes be my woothemes referal link?

As Esmi also pointed out, that’s not done because that can and has lead to link abuse in the theme repository. Credit is one thing, link referrals is something else entirely.

Chip Bennett gave a great presentation on the theme submission review process, give that a view.

Everything that Jan said plus…

In your original topic you asked in your could create a child of Twenty Eleven and use the name Twenty Eleven in the child theme. I said that of course you could.

Then you asked if you could host your themes on your own site if they’d been accepted into the Theme Repo Theme Repo. Nothing about submitting a child theme of Twenty Eleven or any other theme to the Repo. And no point did I say what was, or wasn’t allowed under the Theme Review Guidelines. I even pointed you to https://make.www.ads-software.com/themes/ as The Definitive Point of Reference for theme submission. I think perhaps you read more into the conversation than was ever said or intended.

No derivative themes (based on pre-existing themes or designs) are allowed in the Theme Repo. So I’m pretty sure that will be a “No” to both questions.

This is not accurate.

Derivatives Themes are allowed to be hosted in the official repository. (If we didn’t, half of the currently hosted Themes wouldn’t be there, given the number of them derived from Twenty Eleven, Twenty Ten, Kubrick, Sandbox, etc.)

However, we maintain a fairly high standard of significant design and/or functional difference from the original Theme, in order to be considered.

Also, derived Themes need to indicate clearly the original copyright attribution and license declaration, so that users can trace the Theme back to its original source.

And if you think about it, permitting that would really water down the quality of themes here. Someone could just modify one file on a theme or change the colors in the CSS and there would be hundreds of themes like that.

Think of the theme reviewers and their families! Those poor reviewers, all those derivative themes…

In fact, this is a continual problem, and it does lead to subjective decisions, which the Theme Review Team tries at all reasonable costs to avoid. But a blanket prohibition of derived Themes is simply impractical.

Can the link to woothemes be my woothemes referal link?

Absolutely NOT.. This would be construed as a Spam/SEO link, and if it is an affiliate link, would possibly get you black-balled from submitting Themes.

The appropriate place to put such attribution is with your copyright/license declaration in style.css and/or your readme file.

Nothing about submitting a child theme of Twenty Eleven or any other theme to the Repo.

In fact, Child Themes are not currently being accepted for inclusion in the official repository. That day will come, eventually; but not yet. (It’s outside the control of the Theme Review Team.)

If you have any other questions about submitting Themes to the repository, your best bet is to email the theme-reviewers mail-list, as that is where you will get the quickest and most accurate and thorough answers. (Not many from the Theme Review Team actually monitor the WPORG support forums.)

This is not accurate.

My apologies. I mis-used the term “derivative”. But given what petarg was suggesting, I was pretty sure that this particular “derivative” wouldn’t be allowed. And, in my defence, I have previously pointed him to the mailing list for definitive answers to theme guideline questions. ??