mysql 4.x and fedoracore2

Scot L. Harris webid at cfl.rr.com
Wed Oct 27 14:46:46 UTC 2004


On Wed, 2004-10-27 at 10:24, Thomas Zehetbauer wrote:
> On Mit, 2004-10-27 at 10:01 -0400, James Kosin wrote:
> > MySQL changed their GPL and the people of Fedora, etc. did not like the 
> > changes.  Basically, they are requiring anyone who uses MySQL for any 
> > commercial or managed purpose other than testing or development to pay 
> > royalties to MySQL.
> 
> MySQL4 is available under the terms of the GPL or a commercial license.
> Additionally there is an exception to permit linking with proprietary
> free and open source licensed software like the PHP.
> 
> > They also have provisions to not distribute the source for some modules 
> > of MySQL.
> 
> MySQL is licensed and distributed under the terms of the GPL, this means
> that the complete source code must be made available. Except from your
> posting I have not heard of any missing source and one could even sue
> MySQL to provide it.
> 
> > I could be wrong on some points, but you get the gist.  Basically, they 
> > have started a move away from open source.  MySQL 3.23.58 is the last 
> > with the open source GPL, so that is what FC2 has included.
> 
> On the contrary they have moved TOWARDS open source. Evil companies are
> no longer allowed to include MySQL with their closed source products,
> they have to either stick with MySQL-3, go GPL or pay the open source
> community their well deserved share.
> 
> > I'm sure I'll get flamed for some of my comments; because my points 
> > above may not be totally true.  I'm not good a speaking lawerese.
> 
> I have CC'ed this post to the MySQL licensing department and sincerely
> hope that they will sue you for spreading this FUD.
> 
> Tom

Easier to switch to postgresql than to navigate the potential pitfalls
in the convoluted licensing dance mysql has been doing.

-- 
Scot L. Harris
webid at cfl.rr.com

If you don't care where you are, then you ain't lost. 




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