WPBay Licensing Terms

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Last updated: May 6, 2025

WPBay allows developers to sell their WordPress plugins and themes with flexible licensing and pricing models tailored to different use cases. Each product is licensed by its seller, and the details are made clear on the product page.

Usage-Based Licenses

  • Single Site License
    Grants the buyer the right to use the product on one domain or website. This is typically intended for individual use or a single client project. Once activated, the license can be transferred or reused by revoking it from the customer’s WPBay dashboard. Support and updates are available as defined by the seller.
  • Multi-Site License
    Allows use on multiple websites, typically two, three, five, ten, or another defined number. Suitable for developers and agencies working across multiple projects. The license may be transferred to a client once a project is delivered. Terms of use, support, and updates are set by the seller and shown on the product page.
  • Developer License
    Grants use on unlimited websites. Intended for developers, freelancers, and agencies needing broad usage rights. The product can be modified and used across client work or internal tools. Redistribution or resale of the original product remains prohibited. Updates and support are included as defined by the seller.

Payment Models

Sellers can choose between:

  • One-time payment
    Grants lifetime access to the version purchased. Support and updates may be time-limited.
  • Subscription (monthly or annual)
    Keeps access to updates and support active as long as the subscription remains valid.

What You Can and Cannot Do

You may:

  • Use the product on the number of websites your license allows.
  • Customize and modify the code for your own projects.
  • Deliver it as part of a finished client project (if your license allows it).

You may not:

  • Share license keys or code with others.
  • Resell or redistribute the product (even if modified), unless the product license set by the seller allows this.
  • Include the product in downloadable themes, SaaS platforms, or template libraries, unless the license set by the developer allows this.

Software Licensing Types

Each product also includes a software license that defines how the underlying code and assets may be used. This is separate from the usage license, and it affects whether the product is open-source or partially proprietary.

  • GPL for Code + Proprietary for Assets
    Under this license type, the code (PHP, HTML, JS) is licensed under GPL, while the assets (images, fonts, CSS) are licensed under a separate proprietary license. This setup aligns with WordPress’s open-source requirements while protecting the seller’s original design work.
    These products will display:
    Licensing: GPL for Code + Proprietary for Assets
    This product’s code is GPL licensed. Assets like images and CSS are under a separate proprietary license.
  • 100% GPL License
    Some products are licensed entirely under the GNU General Public License (GPL) — the same license used by WordPress. In these cases, all code, assets, styles, and images are released under GPL terms.
    You are allowed to:
    – Use, modify, and redistribute the product
    – Use it for personal or commercial projects
    – Fork or build on it, as long as GPL terms are followed
    These products will display:
    Licensing: Fully GPL Licensed (Code and Assets)
    This product is fully GPL licensed. All code, images, styles, and other assets are released under the GNU General Public License, giving you full freedom to use, modify, and redistribute.
  • MIT License
    Some products, or components of products, may be released under the MIT License — a permissive open-source license. This allows broad reuse in commercial or private projects, with minimal restrictions. These products will indicate this clearly on their product page:
    Licensing: MIT (Code and/or Assets)
    This product or a component of it is licensed under the MIT License, giving you broad permissions for use and integration.

GPL and Split Licensing on WPBay

WPBay supports three types of open-source licensing for products built for GPL-based platforms like WordPress: 100% GPL, MIT and Split License. These licensing options apply to themes, plugins and scripts, where the underlying platform itself is released under the GNU General Public License.

When a seller lists a WordPress theme or plugin on WPBay, the PHP and integrated HTML are always treated as GPL-licensed code, in line with WordPress licensing requirements. The rest, such as images, icons, fonts, or stylesheets, may either follow the same GPL terms or be licensed separately under a more restrictive license.

Some sellers choose to license their entire product under the GPL, including all code and assets. This approach is fully open-source and allows buyers complete freedom to use, modify, and redistribute all parts of the product, as long as the redistribution remains compliant with GPL terms.

Others prefer a split license. In this model, the code remains GPL-compliant, while certain non-code elements are protected under a proprietary license. This gives the seller more control over the creative aspects of their work while still complying with the open-source requirements for distributing WordPress-related software.

Each product page on WPBay clearly displays the license type chosen by the seller. If an item is fully GPL licensed, it will be marked as such. If the item uses a split license, this will also be noted, with an explanation of which parts are GPL and which parts are proprietary.

Making the Right Choice as a Seller

Choosing between a split license and full GPL is up to each seller, and there are good reasons to go either way. For some, it’s a philosophical decision. Others approach it more pragmatically, depending on how they want to market and protect their work.

A seller focused on open source and community collaboration may prefer to license everything they create under the GPL. They’re comfortable knowing that once they release a product, they no longer control how it’s shared or reused. They rely on the value they provide through updates, support, and trust in their brand to generate revenue.

Another seller might see the most value in their design work, the imagery, layout, styles, and branding, and prefer to keep that part under tighter control. While they still license the functional code under GPL, they retain the legal right to limit redistribution of non-code elements. This gives them more protection over how their product is packaged and reused.

Both approaches are valid. WPBay allows each seller to make that choice based on what’s right for their business and values.

Third-Party Components

Some WPBay items may include third-party libraries or components licensed separately under GPL, MIT, or other open-source licenses. These licenses apply only to those components. Sellers are responsible for clearly documenting any such use in their product description or documentation.

Legal Use and Ownership

Products on WPBay must not be used in deceptive, defamatory, misleading, or illegal ways. If a product includes media or identifiable individuals, it must not be used in a way that implies false endorsement or misrepresentation.

All licenses are granted directly by the seller. WPBay acts as a marketplace and intermediary, not as a party to the license agreement. Ownership always remains with the product creator.

If you have questions about licensing or permitted usage, contact the seller directly through the support link on the product page.