"A theme isn't a compiled program but rather a collection of individual files. Thus, one cannot treat such a collection of individual files the same way as a compiled program. Each individual file must be considered with respect to GPL applicability."

Is this on gnu.org somewhere? I can find where it says that an add-on that requires the parent software to run must inherit its GPL license. I can't find where, if its made up of multiple files, each file definitely will have its own standards of applicability to be considered.



"Also, I do not think that Automattic/Matt can claim that WordPress is a community project, and that wordpress.org is the WordPress community website, while at the same time making such decisions completely devoid of community input. It is not a matter of right or authority, but rather of appropriateness."

WordPress is a community project. It's owned by Automattic, just like MySQL is owned by Sun Microsystems. MySQL is definitely a community project, with most of it's development being contributed by unpaid volunteers. 99% of new code in WordPress comes from unpaid volunteers in the community.
wordpress.org is owned by Matt, however he has almost no involvement with it. Otto and a few other unpaid non-Automattic employees do most of its management. It is definitely a community driven site.

WordPress is one of many open source projects which are mostly developed by their communities, yet overseen by the company that owns them. Some entity has to be the executor for the project, and its website, and since Matt created WordPress, that entity is Automattic. This is very common among large open source projects.


Right now Jeff handles 99% of the administration for wptavern.com and wptavern.com/forum with a little help from the moderators. If this site grows, the day may come when he has very little to do with it's day to day administration, and it may become a largely community driven site, much like wordpress.org is, thanks to people like Otto, who dedicate a large amount of their time.
Even if that day comes, Jeff will still make command decisions about certain content that will be banned from this site. Some people will not agree with his decisions, but that won't make it a non-community driven site.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?