Unlimited Domains?

[LegalWork]

Hello,

I'm interested in purchasing a Pro version of s2member.

I plan to zip all the site content (including the s2member script) and sell the zip file with the membership site already set up and ready to go. I also want to send private label rights to my customers.

Just wanted to confirm that this is okay with your rules. I know it says unlimited domains, but I jut want to make sure.

Thank you,
Alex

[LegalWork]

Come on guys, I really need a reply here!

Thank you!

[Cristián Lávaque]

I emailed Jason asking him about this, I'll update you as soon as I know.

[LegalWork]

Thank you Cristián. Much appreciated!

[Jason Caldwell]

Thanks for the excellent question.
~ and thanks for the heads up Cristián.

No, this type of usage is NOT acceptable. I'm sorry.

Here's an excerpt from our Terms/Conditions for s2Member Pro.

Please take note ( regarding the s2Member Pro Module )
The add-on module ( s2Member Pro ) is comprised of two parts:

(1) Its PHP code is licensed under the GPL license, as is WordPress® itself.

(2) All other parts of the add-on module ( s2Member Pro ); including, but not limited to: the CSS code, some JavaScript code, images, design; and the associated support services that we provide; are licensed according to the license you purchase ( i.e. single-site, or unlimited-site ); and/or as attributed in the /licensing/ directory of the distribution, which provides additional credits and acknowledgments.

Unless you have our prior written consent, you must NOT directly or indirectly license, sub-license, sell, resell, or provide for free; part (2) of the s2Member Pro Module; or make an offer to do any of these things. All of these things are strictly prohibited with part (2) of the s2Member Pro Module.

If you purchase our Unlimited Site License, you CAN install s2Member Pro for multiple clients, on multiple sites, but packaging a copy of s2Member Pro into a product for resale is definitely NOT permitted. We have no license that allows this type of usage. However, you CAN distribute the free version of s2Member this way if you like, as it is 100% GPL. BUT, you MUST follow the rules of GPL as well. If you distribute a copy of the free version of s2Member, it must remain GPL. See: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html

[Jason Caldwell]

About the part on reselling or giving away Pro not being allowed, but developers adding Pro to client's websites being OK, it's contradicting. The developer is selling his service to the the client, and Pro could either be considered sold or given for free to him.

Sorry, perhaps I was not clear enough in that reply, but there is a substantial difference. Installing a copy of s2Member that you acquired, on behalf of a client, is entirely different than bundling s2Member itself and redistributing it, for sale or otherwise. Software licenses, almost all of them, have very different rules for bundling together software packages and distributing them, particularly when you are offering them for sale. For instance, if one of our Customers bundles s2Member with their product, which depends upon s2Member, their product must now remain GPL compatible overall.
See: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html

Generally speaking, it's NOT a good idea to bundle s2Member into any other software application that you write, as it may limit your ability to license your own software package ( overall ) in the way you prefer, particularly when you are planning to license it for resale. However, if your application is going to remain GPL compatible, and you can legally combine your GPL compatible software product with the 100% GPL version of s2Member ( i.e. the free version ), then you should be fine, as long as you follow the rules of GPL licensing. http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html

Since s2Member Pro is NOT 100% GPL, you may NOT bundle a copy of s2Member Pro that we distribute with any other software product, for sale or otherwise, and distribute it yourself. This is made clear in our terms of service for part 2 of the s2Member Pro Module. It is fine for you to resell installation service for s2Member Pro, and to provide your clients with a copy of s2Memeber Pro, if/when you have purchased our Unlimited Site License, but you must NOT "bundle" s2Member Pro into a software distribution, whether that is a software product, or a set of files that make up a website, both of these are considered "distributing" and/or "resale", and these acts are strictly prohibited with part 2 of s2Member Pro.