----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Grant"
<chrisgrantmail(a)gmail.com>
This is based on a flawed reading of the GPL. The GPL
covers the
distribution of program code. The license specifically states that “The act
of running the Program is not restricted”. (Furthermore: “Activities other
than copying, distribution and modification are not covered by this
License; they are outside its scope.”)
The terms you are all referring to relate to the distribution of the
software, not the running of the software.
Wikipedia.org, does not
distribute the software, that is MediaWiki.org's job. If Wikipedia wanted
to, we could remove all licensing information from the software and it
would still be completely legal. The GPL *only* comes into effect once
you start distributing the software.
The problem here, Chris, is "what constitutes 'distributing the
software'?"
WP is *sending a copy of the JS from its servers to a client PC, there to
be executed*. *We* consider that "incidental", but a court might not;
decisions I'm aware of have gone both ways. So that might *be* the
distribution step, legally, and trigger the license requirement.
Cheers,
-- jra
--
Jay R. Ashworth Baylink jra(a)baylink.com
Designer The Things I Think RFC 2100
Ashworth & Associates
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