Selling premade modified versions of free forum software?

[froggyboy604]

How much money can you make selling premade modified version of popular forum software like phpBB3.

I'm not sure if it is legal since I have not read the Terms of service regarding reselling modified versions of phpBB3.

I guest it might be frowned upon since phpBB3 is a free product and selling freeware modified or not can seem like your stealing donations away from the phpBB3 developers in some people views.

 

[Ascent]

Re: Selling premade modified versions of free forum software

That idea would fail miserbly.

Why would anybody want to buy a modified version of a free forum software like phpBB3?

 

[froggyboy604]

Re: Selling premade modified versions of free forum software

If I was starting out in the world of foruming I will be willing to pay 2-5 dollars or a low price for modified version of phpBB3 to save time if it comes with a lot of custom mods, premade custumized template/skins, lots of nice emoticons, shoutout box, logging options and anti-spam protection.

 

[Ascent]

Re: Selling premade modified versions of free forum software

If I was starting out in the world of foruming I will be willing to pay 2-5 dollars or a low price for modified version of phpBB3 to save time if it comes with a lot of custom mods, premade custumized template/skins, lots of nice emoticons, shoutout box, logging options and anti-spam protection.

You might be the only person who does that. People who start out with forums don't want to pay anything, hence the number of free subdomains and free hosted forums.

 

[Twisted Fairytale]

Re: Selling premade modified versions of free forum software

Just to clear this up, Mr. Green, you are wrong. Loads of people do this and can make a few quick bucks one day if someone wants a preloaded software (which is what it is technically called).

You can do it, put the info out there that you do it, and might get a few buyers.

 

[el canadiano]

Re: Selling premade modified versions of free forum software

It's technically legal. The problem on MyBB is more prominent than it is on phpBB, but still. This is currently my biggest problem with MyBB. It recently transitioned to GPL (thus making it open source), but it doesn't quite have the open-source attitude yet.

Some people don't realize this stuff is open source.

 

[Tecca]

Re: Selling premade modified versions of free forum software

It would probably be easier on business if you just installed mods for people individually. Not many people want a forum installed with a lot of mods they don't need. What you could do is have a list of the most popular mods, and people can customize what they want installed for a fee.

That, and downloading what is supposed to be free makes people skeptical.

 

[el canadiano]

Re: Selling premade modified versions of free forum software

Also,

I'm not sure if it is legal since I have not read the Terms of service regarding reselling modified versions of phpBB3.

A modified version of phpBB 3 would basically mean a fork rather than something heavily modified.

 

[Ascent]

Re: Selling premade modified versions of free forum software

Just to clear this up, Mr. Green, you are wrong. Loads of people do this and can make a few quick bucks one day if someone wants a preloaded software (which is what it is technically called).

You can do it, put the info out there that you do it, and might get a few buyers.

What I conveyed from the OP was that he's asking if he can modify forum software, and resell it. I doubt "loads of people" already do that.

Installing software/mods is completely different from selling forum software. I almost never see anybody selling modified forum software, so I am not wrong.

 

[Tecca]

Re: Selling premade modified versions of free forum software

I assumed he was talking about modifying the code as well until a few posts in.

 

[froggyboy604]

Re: Selling premade modified versions of free forum software

I was talking about modifying the code and adding a few custom templates, favicons, emoticons, better captcha codes, shoutout boxes, youtube video embedding mod, and other commonly used mods and features which most forumers want.

The installer of the forum just have to install phpBB3 by themself by connecting their custom phpBB3 software with their MySQL database files, and filling in general information like the "name of their forum" and meta tag descriptions. Plus, making their admin username and password.

I just charge a one time price of 1-5 dollars to cover the price of the online store's web hosting, domain registration, and additional fees, so if I got about 60 customers I make enough to not be losing money on web hosting bills.

 

[el canadiano]

Re: Selling premade modified versions of free forum software

Sorry if I ridiculously interpreted this incorrectly.

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html

But why would you? It'd be an insult to the developers of phpBB if you forked something and sold it.

 

[froggyboy604]

Re: Selling premade modified versions of free forum software

Thanks for the link. I thought it will be a cheaper and less time consuming option for many noobie forum owners then paying for forum design services or doing it themselves which can take days depending on their skill level with php, and MySQL.

All they have to do is pay a small fee like 2 USD to cover the cost of bandwidth and help with web hosting bills for hosting the modified phpBB3 install zip folder.

I guest it will be more ethical to offer a modified version of phpBB3 for free and fund the project with Adsense ads, T-shirt and physical goods like mouse pad sales, and affiliate marketing since I won't technically be selling it for money, but still earn enough to cover the cost of web hosting expenses through advertisements, and sales of T-shirts on the download site.