Are footer back links effective in boosting up SERPs?

[weegillis]

When we install a free template from Wordpress, there is a footer back link to the author's site. My question is, are footer links still effective to boost SERP? Or does it pass the link juice, but the juice is devalued?

Here's a question: Is this referring to the Theme Author's link in the footer of the theme? Is the question relating to whether or not THAT link adds value to the page? I'm not clear on whom the OP is referring to as Author.

[SteveGerencser]

Here's a question: Is this referring to the Theme Author's link in the footer of the theme?

That's how I read it. And yes, they still have value for the Theme Author. Just not as much as they used to.