Footer link protection / encryption

Hi,
I am looking for a way to encrypt / protect the footer links in my Wordpress themes, so the theme wont work when people remove the footer links or it makes people very difficult to remove the links.

I have searched for some time now on Google, DP, SitePoint, etc, but can't seem to find a way. Can someone help me with this or point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

 

I think that might be against the open source rules but you can encrypt using Zend Guard but it's not cheap or free.

 

i actually wrote something to do just that the other day for a client though im not releasing it for free. pm if you're interested.

 

I sent you a PM ansi.

And is it against the rules of Wordpress? Since I see themes offered with some kind of footer link protection all the time here on DP.

 

I think he means for posting the theme on the main WordPress site..

 

I also see themes with encrypted coding there (you mean themes.wordpress.net, right?);

 

I thought it was against GNU to include encrypted code.

 

Theme authors can do whatever they like with a theme they produced.. It can be licensed in any way they see fit..