At 04:43 PM 7/26/2004, you wrote:
looks like the answer is no. As soon as fee based software touches the mysql install on the PC, the user is obligated to pay the $250.
Actually I believe the MySQL 4.x license is more stringent than that. If the MySQL database is distributed within a company for free, then a license is still required, unless the application is distributed under the GPL. If you keep the database in one central location at your company (or ISP), then a license is not required. If you use the database for your own use and not give the application to anyone, then a license is not required.
If you distribute the application for free, but not under the GPL ( you don't distribute the source to the application), you still have to purchase a license. So basically if you distribute your application that depends on MySQL, you need a license unless your application is distributed as GPL, whether you charge for your application or not. Whew!<g> Wouldn't it be nice if MySQL created a nice little table with a couple of columns "License" and "No License" and a bunch of examples down the left hand side?
So if you have an application that uses MySQL, and you are going to distribute it (even for free), then a license is required unless you GPL your application. If you're looking for a loophole in the MySQL license, then you'd be better off looking at FireBird or PostgreSQL or something smaller. There are a few zero footprint databases that work well for a dozen or two dozen users under Windows without costing a lot and paying royalties. Some are even client/server.
Mike
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