Ron Albright [mailto:albright@stripped] wrote:
> This is somewhat ambiguous. From the statements below it would appear to me
> that you can ship MySQL with an application as long as the your application
> does not directly link to the MySQL libraries as would be the case if
> embedded. But "mere aggregation" seems to apply even if your application
> starts the database as a separate executable. The last paragraph of the
> first question seems to allow shipping it along with your application but
> the last sentence leaves it somewhat open to question.
[snip]
Wow, why not just look at the MySQL License Policy page.
They say:
1. Free use for those who are 100% GPL
2. Free use for those who never copy, modify or distribute
3. Commercial use for everyone else
And under point 3:
If your application is not licensed under GPL or compatible OSI license
approved by MySQL AB and you intend to distribute MySQL software (be that
internally or externally), you must first obtain a commercial license to the
MySQL software in question.
More specifically:
a) If you include the MySQL server in your non Open Source application, you
need a commercial licence for the MySQL server
b) If you include one of the MySQL drivers in your non Open Source application
(so that your application can run with MySQL), you need a commercial licence
for the driver(s) in question. The MySQL drivers currently include an ODBC
driver, a JDBC driver and the C language library.
c) If you use MySQL Software within your organisation and you don't want to
risk it falling under the GPL license, you are welcome to purchase a
commercial license.
d) Many users opt for the commercial licence simply because under it MySQL AB
takes responsibility for its products. Under the GPL licence, there are no
warranties or representations from the developer (i.e. from MySQL AB).
Seems pretty clear to me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Brando
Senior Manager of Engineering
Applied Biosystems
3833 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95134-1701
