And about your point on disclosed sponsored themes, I also said the same thing. My first article on sponsored themes basically says “Do what you want, but let people know you’re doing it.”

It’s unethical to package spam with your theme and distribute it without prior disclosure.

As for the write up, I haven’t posted it yet. I’m still busy replying to your comment :).

Irrelevant sponsored links are always interpreted as spam by Google. Since Google doesn’t qualify (at least in my world) as everyone, and everyone is entitled to an opinion, I think you have to qualify your statement. And I think my statement that they are often interpreted as spam is more correct.

I also don’t see an ethical problem with a disclosed sponsored theme. If it is labeled as sponsored in the download page and in the documentation, I don’t see an ethical objection that can be made.

I don’t see any write up on your blog about this topic. At least not today. I can only find the one that I linked to in the article.

The developer is completely within their rights to sell a link on their work.

True. However, where does the outcry about sponsored themes really stems from? Ethics, not legality

I’ll have a full write up on my blog today. If you have time to, I’d like to get your opinions on it.