At WPBay, we believe developers should have the freedom to sell their products in a way that is fair, transparent, and compatible with the WordPress ecosystem.

If you are coming from marketplaces like Envato/CodeCanyon/ThemeForest, the licensing model on WPBay will feel familiar.

How WPBay Licensing Works

WPBay follows a split-license model.

This means:

GPL licensed components (open source):

• PHP code
• JavaScript

These components are generally licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), in line with WordPress licensing expectations.

Proprietary/commercial licensed assets:

• CSS stylesheets
• Images
• Icons
• Logos
• Audio/video assets
• Design elements
• Demo content
• Documentation
• External bundled assets where redistribution rights permit

These assets may remain under the seller’s proprietary commercial license.

What Customers Receive

When purchasing a product on WPBay, customers receive:

For GPL code:

The right to:

• use the product
• modify the code
• inspect the source
• run it on their websites

For proprietary assets:

Customers receive a commercial license to use those bundled assets as part of the purchased product, subject to the seller’s product terms.

This generally does not include:

• reselling standalone design assets
• redistributing logos/branding separately
• claiming ownership of proprietary media assets

Support, Updates, and Licensing

A product purchase on WPBay does not automatically mean lifetime support or updates, unless explicitly stated by the seller.

Licensing and support are separate things.

Example:

• You may legally continue using GPL code.
• Access to updates, premium downloads, support, APIs, cloud features or activation services may require an active license/subscription depending on the seller’s offering.

Can Sellers Use Their Own Licensing Terms?

Yes, sellers can also define a GPL license for their work, if they want to make this switch. However, by default, WPBay items will be set as a ‘split-license’.

However, note:

• GPL-covered code rights cannot be revoked
• licensing terms must remain legally compatible with WordPress/GPL principles
• sellers must have redistribution rights for bundled third-party assets

Selling on WordPress.org and WPBay

Some sellers ask:

“If my product is on WordPress.org, can I also sell it on WPBay?”

Yes.

Many developers use a freemium model:

• free GPL version on WordPress.org
• premium/commercial version on WPBay

Typical premium additions:

• advanced features
• premium templates
• cloud/API integrations
• commercial design assets
• priority support
• update subscriptions

Exclusive Selling?

WPBay does not require exclusivity.

You are free to:

• sell on your own website
• sell on WPBay
• maintain WordPress.org listings
• use freemium models
• distribute through other compatible channels

We believe developers should own their business and sell where they want.

Important Legal Note

WPBay provides marketplace infrastructure, but sellers remain responsible for ensuring:

• their licensing terms are valid
• bundled assets are properly licensed
• third-party code redistribution is allowed
• trademark usage is lawful

If uncertain, consult a legal professional.

FAQ

Is WPBay fully GPL?

No, but core WordPress-related code must be GPL-compatible.

Can sellers use license keys?

Yes. License keys may control:

• functionality
• updates
• support access
• API access
• SaaS features
• premium services

They do not override GPL freedoms for covered code.

Can I redistribute GPL code?

GPL grants redistribution rights for GPL-covered components.

However, proprietary bundled assets may have separate restrictions. Be sure to understand licensing before you start redistributing code.

WPBay’s core philosophy: creators should own their customers, their pricing, and their business.