End of story
My previous post was supposed to put an end to my part of the OpenWebDesign.org sponsored links story that has been going on for two weeks now. The only thing that could change the situation was if the new owner of OWD would contact me, and after several weeks of waiting I didn't find that very likely to happen. The story would end in a way I didn't want it to end, but at the same time it had given me a lot to look forward too.
But this morning, I got the e-mail I had been waiting for. And now there is a good direct communication between me and Shay, the new owner of OWD. My OWD account is restored (except for the admin rights) and most of the templates have been added back. Not by me but by Shay, which is of course perfectly OK. The templates still have sponsored links in them and the links are still breaking the XHTML validation in two different ways, so there is still room for improvement. But with the ability to submit updated templates and edit my own user page given back I am still able to distribute my templates on OWD in the future as well.
I can't tell today if I will officially support OWD in the future, I'm too busy with other things to think about that right now. Work, the hurting jaw and the upcoming holidays are taking up more time than I really have, and I am still trying to get my new design and a new template series online soon. But I have supported OWD since it was launched, and my intention through the entire story has always been to see everything get back to what it should be. I am sure that things will work well once I get a chance to rewrite the plan, but until then the templates are still online on my OWD user page.
This does not change the plan to use OpenDesigns.org as the new primary demo and download location of my templates. But it is still good news since the main priority is still to provide as many people as possible with as good templates as possible, and OWD has built up a good reputation as a quality site over the last year. Thanks Shay for contacting me and giving this story a better end than it had yesterday. Now, I'll do my best to do something good out of this, even though it will probably not happen until the beginning of next year…
Comments can be only posted for 14 days after the post date. If you have comments about an older post such as this one, feel free to send me an e-mail!
Comment from Dean
Time: December 11, 2006, 21:08
@Adrian - I agree with you, but then they need as much advertising they can get, with all the bad press they are getting recently - they need the traffic… lost traffic means advertisers will ditch them in favor of other sites…
Comment from James
Time: December 12, 2006, 5:43
I'm all for making an honest buck online. Heck, I've built a secondary income out of it. Nevertheless, I at least try to show some respect in how I go about it.
I really don't feel that appropriate respect has been shown to you or any of the other designers at OWD. Quite honestly, if I had the ability to remove my own templates, I would have.
Don't get me wrong. Putting links in the footer of OpenSource designs is not so much the issue with me. Most OpenSource licenses allow for such modificaions. The issue is the way it was done without first discussing it with the designers it would effect. Furthermore, is Shay so incompetent at design that he cannot add advert code that is standards compliant. Come on! how hard is it?!
I guess every designer has to make his/her own choice, but IMHO, you are being too nice in this situation. Your work deserves more respect than Shay is showing you.
P.S. If you ever want a mirror that won't insert self-serving ads into your themes, you're always welcome to submit your designs at MWR. I make a few bucks off that site, but at least I'm honest about how I do it and I don't piggy-back on someone else's popularity to do so.
P.S.S. Good luck with OpenDesigns.org. I would love to see it grow into the top OpenSource theme distribution site. OWD and OSWD have both left a bad taste in my mouth. I hope someone can put together a site that will meet the needs of designers.
Just my 2 cents.
James
Comment from Joachim
Time: December 12, 2006, 9:42
Great idea to have OpenDesigns. How can I use the skins for b2evo?
Comment from Andreas
Time: December 12, 2006, 19:02
There is no doubt that I can do much more for OWD than OWD can do for me at this point. But that is not what matters here. And I would never ignore the simple fact that OSWD.org and OWD are the two websites that put me where I am today. I owe both sites a lot.
I don't like the twist in direction that OWD has made, since it takes away much of what was good with the site. I also know that I could contribute in better ways than letting OWD add sponsored links inside my templates. That fact (and this entire story) will definitely make me think twice before I decide whether to support OWD in the future or not. But I have good hope for the future, now that the communication works. There is always room for improvement, and that will of course also affect the decision. I don't mind seeing my templates being added back by Shay, he is free to redistribute the templates just like anyone else. But I will consider using a Creative Commons licence for future updated template versions and releases, to avoid situations like this…
And finally, I do try to be a nice guy. Even in situations where it would make more sense to act differently. It is not always to my own best, but I prefer to spend my energy on better things than being angry…
Comment from Dave R
Time: December 12, 2006, 19:17
Yeah I did think WTF when I saw that advert added to my designs.
Didn't know OWD has been passed on, but with the forum down most people are in the dark.
I hope it stays reasonably good, OSWD is rubbish now, hasnt been updated much this year at all.
Comment from Adrian King
Time: December 11, 2006, 20:36
Andreas,
You are too nice! If they are modifying your template and inserting advertisements then I think you were perfectly in your right to remove the templates.
OWD is making money from your templates and all you are looking to do is freely distribute excellent templates.
And for this Shay character to contact you and put your templates back up, without asking first, after you took the decision to remove them! Well that is terrible.
I know I do not know any discourse that has gone on between you and indeed I do not know the full story, but how do you keep a cool head!
I say OWD needs you much more than you need them - ditch them!