In general, though, I wonder if sun-while abiding to the letter of the law-isn't violating the spirit of the law (of open source and community).

There will be many people who will stretch the limits of whatever specific rules are implied, and in doing so violate the spirit of the regulation as they adhere to its letter.

Thanks to UIGEA, those that cater to gamblers based in America have had to rely on arcane money-transfer systems that fudge the letter of the law and violate its spirit.