Using GPL code on a server.

Question

I got a task to integrate a third-party API into our web application. It's fairy complex and I though that there might be some kind of wrapper in my language-of-choice to consume it. I found a library that does just what I need. The only catch is that it's under GPL.

As far as I know GPL allows us to use the code on a server side without releasing our own code because we are not going to distribute it anyway (there's a separate AGPL license that forces code release in such cases). So in theory I can freely use it. But I'm still feel quite uncomfortable about it. The choice of normal GPL instead of LGPL seem rather odd to me. I'm afraid that the original author assumed that his code will be used in open-source projects only but made a mistake when specifying the license.

What should I do? Should I just grab it or may be write a new wrapper from scratch?

Answer 1

But I'm still feel quite uncomfortable about it.

Contact the author. More likely than not, he will be happy about the new user. You will be testing his code after all.

But by the terms of GPL, you can use the code as you wish, as long as you do not distribute it.

Answer 2

Don't worry. The intent of GPL is to prevent redistribution of derivative works without publishing their sources. Since you don't redistribute the derivative work - you're not violating anything. You just use the derivative work and this is allowed by the license. If that is not enough for you - you can contact the author.