Title: developing a theme – 2 questions
Last modified: August 19, 2016

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# developing a theme – 2 questions

 *  [andrewkro](https://wordpress.org/support/users/andrewkro/)
 * (@andrewkro)
 * [15 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/developing-a-theme-2-questions/)
 * Hi!
 * I’m developing a theme for the client that he wants to sell in the future. The
   client asked me 2 questions:
 * – When we add new functions to the theme, can users update from within
    dashboard?
 * – Can we put licensing/security on the theme so that people can only use the 
   theme if they have made a purchase. And if they refund, we can stop them from
   using the theme.
 * Is this doable? If yes – could you point me in the right direction?
 * Andrew

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  [@mercime](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mercime/)
 * (@mercime)
 * [15 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/developing-a-theme-2-questions/#post-1850332)
 * > can users update from within dashboard?
 * There are two ways users can update from within dashboard:
    a) if you give users
   options to change or add to the theme via theme options panel e.g. change background
   color, change headers, or add adsense code to theme b) via WP dashboard menu 
   Appearance > Editor where users can make and save changes to the theme files 
   including functions.php in dashboard
 * > Can we put licensing/security on the theme so that people can only use the 
   > theme if they have made a purchase. And if they refund, we can stop them from
   > using the theme.
 * All WordPress themes – premium or free – must be licensed GPL since the theme
   is a derivative of the WordPress software which is GPL.
    [http://wordpress.org/about/license/](http://wordpress.org/about/license/)
   [http://wordpress.org/about/gpl/](http://wordpress.org/about/gpl/)
 * As for refunds, you could always say that all sales are final.
 * As for security codes, what, you intend to add an activation code like Microsoft
   or Adobe etc ? Know that anyone can get around that if they know what they are
   doing.
 *  [Michelle Langston](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chellycat/)
 * (@chellycat)
 * [15 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/developing-a-theme-2-questions/#post-1850346)
 * 1. The users will be able to upgrade WordPress and plugins through the options
   panel. If you create a new version of the theme, existing customers can just 
   download the new version from your site.
 * 2. The theme MUST be GPL if you plan to release it to the public. You can still
   charge for it, but you can’t put any restrictions on what the user does with 
   it once they buy it. You can do a split license, however, where the PHP is GPL
   but the HTML, CSS and graphics would be copyrighted. It’s best to go 100% GPL
   though. I would not offer refunds on the purchase, because what’s to stop them
   from buying it, immediately requesting a refund and then keeping the theme?
 * With a product like this, it would make more sense to generate most of your income
   from support and customization services instead of theme sales. Pirates *will*
   steal and distribute your themes for free, but support and customization are 
   two things those losers can’t steal. If someone gets one of your themes for free,
   they won’t have access to support unless they pay up. Plus, they won’t necessarily
   have the latest and greatest version (not to mention that pirated versions of
   free themes often have had spammy code injected into them).
 * What type of theme are you making? I highly suggest that you use the Parent Theme/
   Child Theme model. This way, people can customize their themes without losing
   their changes whenever you release a new version. See: [http://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes](http://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes)
   for more information.
 * There are lots of tutorials on creating an options page, here is a collection
   of them: [http://www.cssreflex.com/2010/02/8-fantastic-wordpress-theme-options-page-tutorials.html](http://www.cssreflex.com/2010/02/8-fantastic-wordpress-theme-options-page-tutorials.html)

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘developing a theme – 2 questions’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [theme development](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/theme-development/)

 * 2 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [Michelle Langston](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chellycat/)
 * Last activity: [15 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/developing-a-theme-2-questions/#post-1850346)
 * Status: not resolved

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