GNU License + Copyright etc

How come people always put COPYRIGHT by whoever year whoever when they design a Wordpress theme, which then says in the information of the source code - this is LICENSED UNDER THE GNU LICENSE

which means

Developers that use the GNU GPL protect your rights with two steps: (1) assert copyright on the software, and (2) offer you this License giving you legal permission to copy, distribute and/or modify it.


WHICH MEANS

I can open it, translate it into say......FRENCH......and call it my French theme?

Is this correct?

Can I remove the FOOTER from the Template because its STEALING all of my SEO with his 3 <STRONG> links he filled it with. (or NOFOLLOW) it?

Thanks

 

The copyright of the theme is held by the author, so they can include a copyright notice. The notice doesn't have to be visible on the web site, but it should be in the theme's files to label their work. The license is what allows you to use their copyrighted work. If you modify the theme, you can add your own copyright notice to protect your changed version.

If it's licensed under the GPL, then you can modify it. Yes, you can modify it to change your own site or to make a new version in French or in different colors or whatever changes you want to make.

I don' t know if links would steal your SEO, unless they're using words which conflict with your keywords. Links to the author help you pay the author with link love for their effort.

 

Thank you for the first educated response I have received in quite some time.

 

As per the Sticky Post at the top of the forum...

"It's been said here over and over, but let's try this again, shall we? We have a long-term problem with misplaced threads here in the Copywriting forum.

Copyrights

The Copywriting forum is NOT where you should be asking questions about copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property issues.

Look closely.... copywriting.... copyright - not the same thing.

Posting copyright questions in the copywriting forum will get you an infraction for misplaced threads, and it will be moved. The copywriting forum is for discussions about writing (questions about becoming a Web writer, etc.). If your topic relates to content, but revolves primarily around the copyright of that content, it belongs in the legal issues forum."

 

Looks like we both need to notice which forum we're in.
Mark is right, you probably would have gotten a faster response in the Legal forum.