On Sat, Jul 28, 2001 at 11:26:14AM +1000, Hamish Moffatt wrote: > The mysql server is GPL. The proprietary program implements its own > mysql client to connect to the server; it doesn't link against the > mysql client code (which is also GPL). > > The mysql.com web site says you require a commercial license for the > mysql server (ie you cannot use it under the GPL) if (among other > reasons): > > "You have a commercial application that ONLY works with MySQL and > ships the application with the MySQL server. This is because we view > this as linking even if it is done over the network." > > Is that a fair definition of linking? (Note that the above clause is > only on the web site, and isn't actually added to the GPL they use for > the mysql server software itself.)
[1] the GPL doesn't actually use the term "linking" in the terms and conditions. [2] in general, the difference between a network connection and a cpu bus is only of interest to a technical person. And even there, it's perfectly reasonable (e.g. beowulf clusters) to design programs which are spread out over a network. [3] while the GPL's distribution restrictions might apply to the distribution of an sql application, they aren't relevant if that application is never distributed. I hope this helps. Thanks, -- Raul
