GPL software is software licensed under the GNU General Public License — a copyleft license that grants users the right to run, study, modify, and redistribute the software, including for commercial purposes. WordPress core is licensed GPL, which means all WordPress plugins and themes (derivative works) inherit GPL licensing, making them legally redistributable by anyone.
GPL grants four core freedoms: the right to run the software for any purpose, the right to study how it works, the right to redistribute copies, and the right to modify and distribute modified versions. The “copyleft” mechanism requires derivative works to be licensed under the same GPL terms, preserving these freedoms downstream.
WordPress core is GPLv2 licensed. WordPress’s legal interpretation holds that PHP-based plugins and themes that build on WordPress functions are derivative works, and therefore must also be GPL-licensed. This is why premium WordPress plugins like Elementor Pro, WooCommerce extensions, and Yoast Premium are legally redistributable — their license cannot prohibit redistribution.
GPL reselling businesses legally purchase premium WordPress plugins and themes, then redistribute copies to their customers — often at a fraction of the original retail price. This is legal under GPL. What’s typically not included is direct support or updates from the original developer; the GPL reseller provides those instead.
GPL redistribution is legal under copyright law. Some plugin developers attempt to restrict redistribution through trademark claims on plugin names or by limiting support to original purchasers, but the GPL itself cannot prohibit redistribution. Resellers can legally sell GPL plugins and themes; they typically rebrand or strip trademarked names to avoid trademark issues.
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