[UPHPU] (WP) GPL License vs. Commercial use?

[Smith, Jeff]

-----Original Message-----
From: uphpu-bounces at uphpu.org [mailto:uphpu-bounces at uphpu.org] On Behalf
Of Mike Smullin
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 2:09 PM
To: UPHPU List
Subject: [UPHPU] (WP) GPL License vs. Commercial use?

I've been considering WordPress for commercial use, but one big problem
I'm afraid of is that the GPL says I need to redistribute the source
code if I redistribute my app (incl. any proprietary plugins/add-ons,
etc.)

I've gotten two different attorney's opinions and they both say, "anyone
we let have access to the software for use, in any way, on our server or
theirs, via any manner, has the right to the code."

This means if I set up a WordPress blog, I don't even have to allow you
to login and post. If you even post a comment on my blog, you are
entitled to view the source code.

Am I misinterpreting something? That seems pretty lame. There are a lot
of WordPress [based] blogs out there. Does this mean any time I notice
someone adding something new or customizing any way, I can demand to see
their source code?

That would mean the same is true for any other GPL licensed open-source
project.

For me, this raises concerns about the license even from a personal
usage standpoint.

Can someone clarify this for me?

Additionally, I know PHP is open-source, but it doesn't have anything
like that in it I hope. People use PHP for commercial applications,
right? Or am I wrong? 

They say "The PHP developers decided to release PHP under a much more
loose license (Apache-style), to help PHP become as popular as
possible."

http://www.php.net/license/3_01.txt

If that is the full license, it appears very short and succinct.

--
Respectfully,

Mike Smullin
http://www.mikesmullin.com/

_______________________________________________

You misunderstand, the GPL states you only need to disclose the source
code if you distribute the executable.  I had a run in a couple years
ago with an online game that used some of my code but did not release
any of their changes.  When I complained to source forge that the
project wasn't truly open source I was informed it didn't violate the
GPL because they are not releasing the executable they are releasing the
end product (a web page in this case).  So if WordPress is released
under the GPL you should be ok.   Now the spirit of the GPL says you
should release changes so everyone can benefit.

Jeff Smith