I want to ask how premium theme-provider like (WooThemes, StudioPress, ElegantThemes etc.) defend their themes from being used unethically? I found a lot of blogs which provide these premium wordpress themes for free - (not mentioning). If someone downloads them, utilize them, rank, earn and play with them without license, without a link-back, will ever the theme providers be able to find the people, (both parties - who upload and who download)? If they can find out, what measures will they may take? Is there any record of penalty? I think WordPress is the best section for this question. Thanks, Shafin.
Well, I guess there are some theme's out there that might have a little script that sends a notification back to the theme owners server and notifies them whenever a theme is used and where. If used illegally, they could contact the hosting provider and file a DMCA notice to have the site taken down. Plus, stealing the theme would be piracy. But for themes, there isn't really much you can do. You can't encrypt the code because some people may want to change colours and positions, even if very slightly.
If you use Premium themes from a site that offers them for free, the joke is on you. They are pretty much polluted with malware and scripts designed to use your website as a proxy for spam and other bad stuff. No one offers things online for free out of the goodness of their hearts. Music, Scripts, Movies, Software...it's all a trojan horse to infect you with malware because they know the web is full of cheapskates that can't resist thinking they are beating the system. And 2 months later you will be trying to figure out why your computer or website is working correctly or why something crashed. Read this: http://wpmu.org/why-you-should-never-search-for-free-wordpress-themes-in-google-or-anywhere-else/