The WordPress Flowplayer plugin is licensed using creative commons: by attribution, no commercial and share alike license.
The plugin integrates into WordPress which is GPLv2 licensed, should the Flowplayer plugin not also be GPL licensed as it is dependant on WordPress?
At the time of initial release of the original plugin CC 2.0 By-SA was an acceptable license.
Also this plugin works on the API and makes no core code modifications, as such it could in _theory_ be released under any license, the same with many COMMERCIAL plugins.
The Flowplayer version packaged in this download is not GPL licensed it is the commercial licensed version of Flowplayer.
The other version of Flowplayer that is available from the Flowplayer website is GPLv3 licensed with extra attribution conditions added to it that make it Badgeware like SugarCRM, to remove the attributions you need to buy the commercial version, which is not really in the true spirit of GPL Open Source software.
I had gained express permission from the authors of flowplayer to use their commercial version of their software, the next release will contain both the GPL and commercial versions.
The commercial version was chosen to be used due the increased feature set over the GPL version, users have however complained at the logo size when not having a license for the commercial version, as such the release currently in development contains both
The author of the plugin is an affiliate of Flowplayer and is employed by Flowplayer (Known as Buzz on the Flowplayer Forum and company page).
Whilst this is correct if you check the timeline I was only invited to become an affiliate well after the development of this plugin,
I only support users on their forum, several of which are wordpress plugin users, I do no have any interaction the the licensing and / or development of flowplayer itself, I provide configuration support on their forums, and develop this plugin.
All of which can be confirmed by contacting flowplayer directly.
Can the site admins check the current download package of this plugin 2.0.1.4 to check if its a suitable plugin to remain hosted on wordpress.org
Again as this is a plugin it can be under ANY license and still remain legal, as it does not make modification to the existing wordpress code base.
At the time of original signup CC 2.0 By-SA was an accepted license.
The current release 2.0.1.4 contains the commercial version for the improved feature set, at the express permission of the software authors.
On a side note, the readme in the plugin itself contains instructions for contacting me, rather than sound of on the forums might it not of been an idea to actually raise this issue with me?
Whilst you argue the ‘spirit’ of the GPL, I think you need to review your interpretation of it.
