In that case, Drupal modules that do not include third-party code are legal, since they merely allow Drupal to be combined with "separate and independent" programs. No work derived from the third-party code is being distributed. I know it's repetitive, but this discussion has been answering the wrong question. On Sep 10, 2007, at 5:40 PM, Thomas Barregren wrote:
The CiviCRM's FAQ about AGPL loudly and clearly states:
You cannot combine code licensed under both licenses [AGPL and GPL] into a single program and then redistribute that combination because the AGPL and the current version of the GPL are incompatible.
Thus, you cannot distribute CiviCRM as *part of* a software licensed under GPL. However, you can distribute CiviCRM as "a separate and independent program from the GPL-licensed software".
It is important to make a distinction between "derived work" and "combined work".
Derivative works are subject to the GPL’s reciprocity provision (a.k.a. copyleft) while combined works are not. The matter is thoroughly discussed in Lawrence Rosen's book "Open Source Licensing: Software Freedom and Intellectual Property Law" available online from
http://www.rosenlaw.com/oslbook.htm.
Rosen says in the book that he belief that GPL "will ultimately be read by the courts to mean that derivative works are subject to the GPL’s reciprocity provision, but collective works are not."
Best regards, Thomas