GERMAN SHIELD WORDPRESS PLUGIN
Split License Agreement

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PART 1: GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE (GPL)
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This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
(at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA

The full text of the GPL v2 license is available at:
https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

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PART 2: PROPRIETARY COMMERCIAL LICENSE & RESTRICTIONS
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Copyright (c) 2024-2025 German Shield - All Rights Reserved

OWNERSHIP & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:
-----------------------------------
The "German Shield" name, logo, branding, design elements, and associated
intellectual property are the exclusive property of the copyright holder
and are NOT covered by the GPL license.

COMMERCIAL RESTRICTIONS:
------------------------
While the source code is licensed under GPL v2+, the following additional
restrictions apply to COMMERCIAL USE:

1. PERMITTED USES (GPL Rights):
   - Use on unlimited personal and client websites
   - Modification of code for your own use
   - Distribution of modified versions under GPL
   - Integration into GPL-compatible projects

2. RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL USES:
   The following require explicit written permission:
   
   a) RESALE & REDISTRIBUTION:
      - Selling this plugin or derivatives as a standalone product
      - Bundling with premium themes/plugins for resale
      - Distribution via commercial marketplaces (CodeCanyon, ThemeForest, etc.)
      - White-labeling or rebranding for commercial purposes
   
   b) SAAS & CLOUD SERVICES:
      - Operating as a service (SaaS) using this plugin
      - Multi-tenant hosting platforms offering this as a feature
      - Reselling access to plugin functionality via subscriptions
   
   c) BRANDING & TRADEMARK:
      - Using "German Shield" name or logo in derivative products
      - Implying endorsement or official affiliation
      - Registering similar trademarks or domain names

3. REQUIRED ATTRIBUTION:
   All derivative works MUST include visible attribution:
   "Powered by German Shield (https://german-shield.com)"
   
   Removal of attribution requires a Commercial License.

4. API & EXTERNAL SERVICES:
   Connection to German Shield API services, licensing system, and premium
   features requires valid license key. API access is NOT covered by GPL.

5. SUPPORT & UPDATES:
   Technical support and automatic updates are provided only to licensed
   users. GPL license does NOT include support or update services.

THEMEFOREST/CODECANYON COMPATIBILITY:
-------------------------------------
This split license structure is compatible with Envato marketplaces:
- Core plugin code: GPL v2+ (meets WordPress requirements)
- Premium features & services: Proprietary (meets Envato requirements)
- Branding & design: Proprietary (protects your IP)

COMMERCIAL LICENSING:
---------------------
For commercial use cases requiring exceptions to these restrictions,
contact us for a Commercial License:

Email: license@german-shield.com
Website: https://german-shield.com/licensing

VIOLATION & ENFORCEMENT:
------------------------
Violation of these restrictions may result in:
- License key revocation
- API access termination
- Legal action for trademark infringement
- DMCA takedown notices

FREE LICENSE:
-------------
Free license holders receive:
✓ Full plugin functionality (GPL code)
✓ Community support
✓ Basic updates
✗ Premium features
✗ Priority support
✗ Commercial use rights
✗ White-label rights

PREMIUM LICENSE:
----------------
Premium license holders receive:
✓ Everything in Free
✓ Premium features & API access
✓ Priority email support
✓ Commercial use rights (with attribution)
✓ Automatic updates
✗ White-label rights (requires Enterprise)

ENTERPRISE LICENSE:
-------------------
Enterprise license holders receive:
✓ Everything in Premium
✓ White-label rights
✓ No attribution required
✓ Multi-site unlimited
✓ Dedicated support
✓ Custom development options

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JURISDICTION & DISPUTES
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This license is governed by German law. Any disputes arising from this
license shall be resolved in German courts.

For questions about this license, contact: legal@german-shield.com

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ACCEPTANCE
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By installing, copying, or using German Shield, you agree to be bound by
the terms of both the GNU GPL v2+ AND these additional restrictions.

If you do not agree to these terms, you may not use this software.

Last Updated: December 2024
Version: 1.0.0

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