----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Grant" chrisgrantmail@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