Question about Themes in library

[User 180565 is taking donation]

Not sure where to post this, however are we able to edit themes that are submitted to the proboards library however we want as long as copyrights are shown?

[Stinky666]

Mar 27, 2014 23:50:00 GMT -8 User 180565 is taking donation said:

Not sure where to post this, however are we able to edit themes that are submitted to the proboards library however we want as long as copyrights are shown?

There is no one answer for this.
Whilst some designers allow you to edit, others don't.
Some may say that you can change some things - such as colours, links etc. Whilst others may say nothing can be changed.

It's the same with Plugins really - some are editable, if made to be. The only difference really, is we can't make it so themes can't be kept as they are and untouched.

My advice would be to either reply to the person's theme in the library, or even better, if they have a thread here on support or elsewhere, ask there. Or of course, send them a PM.

[Michael]

The themes are designed to be editable for a reason. As long as you're not making changes and then claiming the whole work as your own I don't see a problem.

[Stinky666]

Mar 28, 2014 8:30:24 GMT -8 Michael said:

The themes are designed to be editable for a reason. As long as you're not making changes and then claiming the whole work as your own I don't see a problem.

Without trying to cause an argument, I'm sure many designers would disagree with you. As well as plenty agreeing with you (possibly).

[Michael]

Mar 28, 2014 15:57:50 GMT -8 Stinky666 said:

Mar 28, 2014 8:30:24 GMT -8 Michael said:

The themes are designed to be editable for a reason. As long as you're not making changes and then claiming the whole work as your own I don't see a problem.

Without trying to cause an argument, I'm sure many designers would disagree with you. As well as plenty agreeing with you (possibly).

I'm sure they would, but thats my position on it. I personally don't see the harm in it. 

[Jen Parsons]

I'm just going to add my two cents since this is a topic that irks me a bit.

If you read some of the threads in the theme library there are creators that are very specific as to what edits are allowed with their theme. Some would rather you didn't use their theme if your intention is to make extreme edits.

I just think when a red name says it's okay it totally disregards what the theme creator has listed as acceptable edits to their theme.

[David Clark]

Just to chime in with regards to the library - we take author's creative work seriously when reviewing submissions, and we review sometimes several themes a day where the submitter has attempted to upload someone else's theme with minor changes. We have a specific automated response for these people and their submissions are quickly rejected.

On Support, if I see someone using a theme that I know had a credit to the author and notice it's been removed, I won't hesitate to mention it to them and advise that they support the author by putting it back. Beyond this, however, there's not really anything we can do to prevent users from editing themes. They're designed to be flexible/changeable to meet as many admins' needs as possible.

Here's one way to think of it, though - if a user downloads your theme and immediately fiddles with the colors and removes your credit, that doesn't change the fact that they downloaded your theme - and your library statistics (your total downloads) will reflect that. If nothing else, even though they were totally lame, they boosted your numbers.

This is, of course, just my personal interpretation. I don't decide the policies regarding the Library.

[Stinky666]

Mar 29, 2014 8:32:14 GMT -8 David Clark said:

Just to chime in with regards to the library - we take author's creative work seriously when reviewing submissions, and we review sometimes several themes a day where the submitter has attempted to upload someone else's theme with minor changes. We have a specific automated response for these people and their submissions are quickly rejected.

Which I fully believe and have no doubts about at all. I never have done. You guys have always been great with stuff like that.

Mar 29, 2014 8:32:14 GMT -8 David Clark said:

On Support, if I see someone using a theme that I know had a credit to the author and notice it's been removed, I won't hesitate to mention it to them and advise that they support the author by putting it back. 

Which I appreciate, as I am sure all other designers would/do too.

Mar 29, 2014 8:32:14 GMT -8 David Clark said:

Beyond this, however, there's not really anything we can do to prevent users from editing themes. They're designed to be flexible/changeable to meet as many admins' needs as possible.

Here's one way to think of it, though - if a user downloads your theme and immediately fiddles with the colors and removes your credit, that doesn't change the fact that they downloaded your theme - and your library statistics (your total downloads) will reflect that. If nothing else, even though they were totally lame, they boosted your numbers.

If this is the case, you guys are basically saying that our themes are just a "skeleton" (or whatever word you wish to use to describe it).

There is no point in downloading a PRE-MADE THEME that you're going to change/alter in many ways. If that's the case, you should simply make your own, get other people to help make it for you (bits of pieces here and there), or simply request for someone else to do the entire thing to your spec. 

I don't want to work my butt off on a theme, adding lots of customized modifications, for someone to simply remove them all, and make it so the theme is unrecognizable as my own. It doesn't matter if they leave a copyright in place or not. They may alter it so much, that they completely destroy a theme I have put a lot of effort into.

What makes the above worse for my themes, is the fact I try to be nice and don't put any form of a copyright on them. I put my stamp on themes by creating them in certain ways and styles. That is my copyright. So altering lots, make sit unrecognizable.

For me personally, I don't mind if you want to change the colours. That's absolutely fine for my themes. You may like my Blue Ninja Theme (for example) but may want it as a green themed one instead of blue, or pink or some other colour. You may not like the fact the shoutbox is where I have placed it, so sure, absolutely move it to where you prefer. Just don't go changing everything, and moving or removing too much. I have no answer for "well what IS too much?" because that can simple depend on what the theme is, and what is wanting to be moved/removed etc.

I think that may be all I will say on the matter, because from me personally, there is nothing more to be said.
All I can finish with, is the fact that, I still think you should ask the designer/creator of a theme before making TOO MANY changes. 



NOTE: I really do hope you guys don't see this as me being a jerk, or trying to start anything. It's just my two cents. I don't want the thread to get out of control or locked, because you think I am being any of the above (a jerk, or argumentative).

[Jen Parsons]

Thanks for that info David Clark

I guess I was naive in thinking that rules and guidelines creators specify for their themes meant something. I always thought the Abuse Dept. might help out if certain lines are crossed. But to find out that all edits are acceptable. People can remove copyrights. And a pre-made theme can be used to create a new theme. It's clear that making themes for ProBoards is not the right fit for me. 

[David Clark]

Don't make that determination on my account, Jen Parsons. I didn't mean to suggest any of what you've inferred above, and was only speaking as someone who assists in the review of submissions to the library. I don't make the final calls. Thank you for the reminder to include that information in my post above.

[Alanna 🥀🖤]

I can't not reply to this thread. So, first off I did some simple research on the definition of "Pre-made." For "Pre-made" I didn't find much other than people debating what it means on Yahoo. Instead I looked up "Ready-made" (a synonym for Pre-made) and this is what I found:

1. Already made, prepared, or available.
2. Handy or expedient, especially because of familiarity, frequent use, or pre-planning.
3. Made for purchase and immediate use by any customer.
4. Extremely convenient or ideally suited.
   
5. Unoriginal or conventional.
   
6. Made in advance for sale to any purchaser.
   
7. Made for immediate use.
   
8. Something that is ready-made, as a garment or a piece of furniture.
   

Last time I checked, no one goes to a store, buys clothes or furniture, then EDITS it to their liking. You go out and find exactly what you want and use it as is. If you want something specific, you make it yourself by either buying a pattern or learning how.

I bolded number 7 because well, it says it all. Pre-made or Ready-made creations are meant to be purchased as is and used as is. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of being Pre-made and therefore used as a pattern, base, or skeleton (depending on what phrase you use).

I have actually stopped creating skins/themes because of this very issue. If the Proboards staff think that Pre-made Themes should be allowed to be edited (to any extent) they should change the name of the Theme Library to "Base Library" or "Skeleton Library."

[moonbeam]

I don't create themes for the library - they're not good enough. But I do have to agree with Stinky666, Jen Parsons and @khristian that once a bunch of stuff is changed, that theme is effectively no longer theirs. I don't think it's right. Stinky said it all right here.

There is no point in downloading a PRE-MADE THEME that you're going to change/alter in many ways. If that's the case, you should simply make your own, get other people to help make it for you (bits of pieces here and there), or simply request for someone else to do the entire thing to your spec.

[User 180565 is taking donation]

Mar 29, 2014 12:54:02 GMT -8 moonbeam said:

I don't create themes for the library - they're not good enough. But I do have to agree with Stinky666, Jen Parsons and @khristian that once a bunch of stuff is changed, that theme is effectively no longer theirs. I don't think it's right. Stinky said it all right here.

There is no point in downloading a PRE-MADE THEME that you're going to change/alter in many ways. If that's the case, you should simply make your own, get other people to help make it for you (bits of pieces here and there), or simply request for someone else to do the entire thing to your spec.

That's a bit silly if you're just wanting to change a color or add a plug in or two.

[moonbeam]

You did see where he said "in many ways", and I said "a bunch of stuff"?

I also don't really think plugins qualify for this discussion, as they affect the forum as a whole, not themes, specifically.

[User 180565 is taking donation]

You did see where I said color also right?