WordPress Theme Development Guidelines

The vast majority of my work is creating custom WordPress themes for others based upon the design they have created for their client.  They then send me the Photoshop or Fireworks file(s) and then I create the theme with the functionality they need.  None of these themes are meant or intended for more than a one time usage.

I also customize existing WordPress themes as some designers/developers just don’t have time to learn WordPress, but need something done and it’s not a problem.

However, if you would like a custom WordPress theme that will be reused and modified repeatedly for your clients these are the guidelines.

WordPress Theme Development Guidelines

1. No third-party is allowed to modify the theme and use it or place the designs in their portfolio.
2. If you will be using a third-party then I will price it accordingly for my loss of income with an additional license fee required for each website.
3. I always retain the copyright unless I specifically release it in writing.  If you want the copyright to the design (not the code) then it will be priced accordingly for the loss in income.  Or I will require a licensing fee for each website that it is used on.  The license fee will depend upon the industry the theme is used for.
4. I am not restrained from creating additional themes or working with clients in any specific industry as this is what I do for a living.  If you insist it will cost you big bucks.  I go for nothing less than $250,000.00.  Besides that’s a major non-compete no-no and I have never been your employee nor will I be.
5. You may modify the code, but you do not own the copyright to it, and I reserve the right to reuse it for other clients in the same or other industries.  Your theme is likely to be using code that I have used previously for another client or under subcontract to another designer or developer.
6. It is not your intellectual property.

If you don’t like my guidelines there are hundreds of WordPress themes out there as well as WordPress theme developers.