⚖️ What “GPL Licensed” Means
GPL stands for GNU General Public License, which is one of the most widely used open-source licenses in the software world — including for many WordPress themes, plugins, and even WordPress itself.
When code is GPL licensed, it means the author allows anyone to:
- Use the software freely (for personal or commercial use).
- Modify the code as they wish.
- Redistribute it — either for free or for a fee — as long as they also release it under the same GPL license.
🧩 In Website Terms
When your website’s theme or plugin is under a GPL license, it means:
- You are legally free to install, use, or even modify that theme/plugin on any number of websites.
- You can customize the code to suit your project’s needs (e.g., change design, features).
- You can share or resell it — but you must also keep it GPL licensed, meaning others will have the same freedoms you do.
💻 Examples in Practice
- WordPress itself is under the GPL license.
→ That’s why anyone can build themes, plugins, or modified versions of WordPress. - Most official WordPress themes/plugins (like Astra, GeneratePress, WooCommerce, etc.) are GPL-licensed.
→ You can legally reuse, edit, or extend their code without breaking copyright law.
However:
- The brand name, design assets, and logos may still be copyrighted — so you can’t claim their brand as your own.
- Premium themes/plugins often charge for support, updates, and convenience, not for the code itself.
⚠️ Key Rules of GPL
| You Can | You Cannot |
|---|---|
| Use it on unlimited sites | Claim it as your own original creation |
| Modify and customize | Remove copyright headers |
| Redistribute or sell | Change the license to a restrictive one |
| Learn from the code | Use third-party copyrighted assets (like images) without permission |