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Hello GeneratePress Team,
I hope you are doing well.
We have been using the GeneratePress theme on our WordPress website for many years and have been very satisfied with its performance and flexibility.
We have a query regarding copyright ownership.
Our website is built on WordPress using the GeneratePress theme as the base framework. However, we have extensively customized it by developing our own custom theme, including our own PHP code, HTML structure, CSS, JavaScript, templates, functionality, and overall website layout. The customizations have been developed by us over several years.
Could you please clarify the following:
Does the copyright in our custom-developed theme, templates, code, layout, and functionality belong to us?
We would appreciate it if you could provide your clarification in writing, as we require this confirmation for legal documentation.
Thank you for your time and assistance. We look forward to your response.
Kind regards,
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Hi there,
Does the copyright in our custom-developed theme, templates, code, layout, and functionality belong to us?
Yes—in general, the copyright in the original code and creative work that you developed belongs to you, while the copyright in GeneratePress remains with its authors.
Here’s how it typically works:
– GeneratePress (like WordPress itself) is licensed under the GPL. The GeneratePress developers retain copyright over the GeneratePress code they created.
– Your original work—including PHP code, HTML templates, CSS, JavaScript, custom functionality, graphics, and other creative elements that you wrote or designed—is your own copyrighted work (or your company’s, if it was created in the course of business and applicable law assigns ownership to the company).
– Using GeneratePress as the underlying framework does not transfer ownership of your original additions to the GeneratePress developers.Some nuances:
– If your custom theme includes or modifies portions of GeneratePress code, those copied or modified portions remain subject to the GPL and the GeneratePress copyright notices.
– Your entirely original code and creative expression remain yours.
– Copyright protects the expression (your code, design assets, written content, etc.), not the underlying ideas or general concepts.
– The GPL governs licensing and redistribution of software, but it does not transfer copyright ownership.
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