def externalize(taskclass_or_taskobject):
    """
    Returns an externalized version of a Task. You may both pass an
    instantiated task object or a task class. Some examples:

    .. code-block:: python

        class RequiringTask(luigi.Task):
            def requires(self):
                task_object = self.clone(MyTask)
                return externalize(task_object)

            ...

    Here's mostly equivalent code, but ``externalize`` is applied to a task
    class instead.

    .. code-block:: python

        @luigi.util.requires(externalize(MyTask))
        class RequiringTask(luigi.Task):
            pass
            ...

    Of course, it may also be used directly on classes and objects (for example
    for reexporting or other usage).

    .. code-block:: python

        MyTask = externalize(MyTask)
        my_task_2 = externalize(MyTask2(param='foo'))

    If you however want a task class to be external from the beginning, you're
    better off inheriting :py:class:`ExternalTask` rather than :py:class:`Task`.

    This function tries to be side-effect free by creating a copy of the class
    or the object passed in and then modify that object. In particular this
    code shouldn't do anything.

    .. code-block:: python

        externalize(MyTask)  # BAD: This does nothing (as after luigi 2.4.0)
    """
    # Seems like with python < 3.3 copy.copy can't copy classes
    # and objects with specified metaclass http://bugs.python.org/issue11480
    compatible_copy = copy.copy if six.PY3 else copy.deepcopy
    copied_value = compatible_copy(taskclass_or_taskobject)
    if copied_value is taskclass_or_taskobject:
        # Assume it's a class
        clazz = taskclass_or_taskobject

        @_task_wraps(clazz)
        class _CopyOfClass(clazz):
            # How to copy a class: http://stackoverflow.com/a/9541120/621449
            _visible_in_registry = False
        _CopyOfClass.run = None
        return _CopyOfClass
    else:
        # We assume it's an object
        copied_value.run = None
        return copied_value