Blog theme sponsored links

DarrenC · 05-26-2007, 06:04 PM

I want to air my disgust at the amount of Wordpress themes that have a sponsored link as well as a link to the designer’s site. I have no problem at all, in linking to the designer in the footer, but I refuse to keep a link to the sponsor, who has paid the designer for this link.

What's your opinion?

**John Scott** · 05-26-2007, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarrenC

I want to air my disgust at the amount of Wordpress themes that have a sponsored link as well as a link to the designer’s site. I have no problem at all, in linking to the designer in the footer, but I refuse to keep a link to the sponsor, who has paid the designer for this link.

What's your opinion?

Hell yeah. I downloaded a theme a bit ago, installed it and was disgusted to see three footer links and two sidebar links to spammy crap websites.

sizzler_chetan · 05-26-2007, 06:13 PM

Yep not only 1 or 2, i have seen themes being sponsored by 3 different people, so you get a theme ready with 4 sitewide outbound links already!

DarrenC · 05-26-2007, 06:15 PM

If you remove the sponsored link(s) can the designer do anything about it?

I'm creating a blog for a client, and the theme they like has 2 sponsored links on it.

**John Scott** · 05-26-2007, 06:17 PM

I've had a few blogs designed using a sponsored theme as a starting point.

sizzler_chetan · 05-26-2007, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarrenC

If you remove the sponsored link(s) can the designer do anything about it?

I'm creating a blog for a client, and the theme they like has 2 sponsored links on it.

I think they have full rights on the theme and they give the sponsorship rights to the sponsors too, and they might just claim to put the link back if you remove it.
Cant do anything more... i hope!

redranting · 05-27-2007, 08:41 AM

yeah that is pretty stupid. i agree with you on that one

raugusto · 05-27-2007, 09:00 AM

if the designer is giving the theme for free and specifies that links should be kept, than you use the theme as is or you do not use it.

**Cricket** · 05-27-2007, 09:15 AM

Read this article:
http://weblogtoolscollection.com/arc...nsored-themes/

**John Scott** · 05-27-2007, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Finally many of these themes try to legally disallow you from removing the advertising link by claiming it’s part of the Creative Commons attribution to leave it. This is almost funny, because these themes are on shaky legal ground themselves. WordPress is Free, meaning you’re free to do pretty much anything you like with it. It’s under a license that encourages user freedom called the GPL, which says if you distribute something that links internal functions and data structures of a GPL program (like themes do with WordPress) that also needs to be Free. At best, theme authors claiming you can’t remove the link are ignoring or ignorant of the license issues, at worst they’re actively exploiting the work of thousands of volunteers that have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into WordPress.

Great link, Cricket

raugusto · 05-27-2007, 12:54 PM

Well Avivadirectory is known as one of the most traffic web directories and it has a good page strenght. Part of that is achieved by sponsoring:

Free Wordpress Themes
Free Site Sift Templates
Free Esyndicate Templates
Free PhpLinkBid Templates
Free PhpLD Templates

So we should measure the quality of sites sponsoring the themes?

IndigoBlack · 05-29-2007, 01:10 PM

I blogged about this some time ago. My feeling is that if you do not want to honor the terms of use for the template than do not use the template. Period. WordPress is not lacking in the free themes department. If you don't like the sponsored links in the theme you selected then go find one that doesn't have it.

What's sickening are those who thinks it's okay to dishonor a web designer's time and hard work by not abiding by the terms of use or to try and find "a way around".

My 2cents.

dbay · 05-29-2007, 11:58 PM

I guess it depends too, definitely too many links and especially links to "crappy" sites are not good, but i myself released My Themes with a sponsor, but a single sponsor only.

shortd81 · 06-01-2007, 11:13 AM

I honestly think 1-2 sponsors are fine, but when I see 3 and 4 sponsors that's WAY too many if you ask me. But again, if you don't like it don't use it. But I do understand what was said about the GPL which is very interesting.

BingoBalls · 06-01-2007, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortd81

But again, if you don't like it don't use it.

Problem here is that the majority of bloggers don't actually know anything behind these sponsored links.

I first took notice of it when Matt Cutts made a brief mention on it when posting about purchased links. Its crazy seeing the amount of themes available that have credit card sites etc for sponsors.

**cldnails** · 06-01-2007, 11:57 AM

I think people need to quit bitching about the sponsored links. If you are unwilling to abide by the license of the theme release, don't use it. Deleting links you deem unworthy is a poor unethical practice.

If it weren't for these sponsors there wouldn't be half the amount of 'FREE' templates out there to use.

BingoBalls · 06-01-2007, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cldnails

I think people need to quit bitching about the sponsored links.

You've missed the point completely.

**cldnails** · 06-01-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BingoBalls

You've missed the point completely.

I don't think I did, if so, please tell me what it is. It all sounds like a tired excuse to remove someone elses either 'hard work' or 'investment'.

BingoBalls · 06-01-2007, 12:15 PM

Sorry I should have said you missed my point, people using the theme and clueless about the actual sponsors.

I agree that using themes and removing the sponsors is unethical as it is the designers request to have them there. Even if the choice of sponsors lowers the quality of the theme.

Personally I ignore all themes using the sponsored theme methods. There are plenty of quality designers creating themes without them.