I'm sure this must have been asked before but I tried searching but couldn't find the answer. I'm currently developing 2 scripts which I release for free. I want to add in the condition that the scripts can only be used when my copyright notice in the source code and the "Powered by" footer link from the template stays intact. At the moment, I'm releasing them with the GPL license and a note in the code next the copyright link that says "you're not allowed to remove this link" or words to that effect. Is there a better way to do this?
Maybe encrypt your footer links and include a vital component of the script in the encrypted code. If someone sees the chunk of garbled code and removes it, assuming it'll get rid of the footer link, then the script will no longer work. Not entirely failsafe, but surely a step in the right direction. As for how to do it? Off the top of my head I can't remember - I did read an article about it recently so i'll try to dig that out.
I've never been a big fan of encrypted code so I'd prefer to avoid it. I find all the methods of putting protection into the source code gives the impression it's a commercial project so people tend not to care about ripping me off. Plus it just annoys anyone wanting to modify the source code, which personally I find extremely irritating when I see it done on other scripts. At the moment, I depend on people's better nature not to remove a single unobtrusive "powered by" link on a free script.. but I'm always going to have a lot of people that couldn't care less, so I want to be legally in the right when telling those offenders that they are running my script illegally and must take down their site. Thanks for your reply though, much appreciated.