Okay, I figured the time had come to stop speculating about MySQL's licensing policy and get the answer straight from the horse's mouth, as it were. So I contacted MySQL and posed a couple of scenarios to them. Here's my questions and their responses (my stuff is the quoted part):
" > in all of these examples, a non-GPLed application is being described: > > 1) A web-based application for an internal or external audience > running with mysql as the backend only? If it is a web-based application that will be created and distributed, a license is required. If it is an internally built and internally used application running on one server, a commercial license is not required (more then one installation requires a license for each - it will be considered internal distribution). > > 2) A compiled win32 application installed on employee desktops > that > connects to a centralized mysql database for running queries? As long as the database is not installed on each individual machine, only one license is required (unless it is an internally built application running on one server - it could be used for free). > > 3) A compiled win32 application that installs mysql locally on the > user's machine? A license would be required for each installation, it would be considered internal distribution. > > 4) A web-based application where mysql has been "distributed" to a > number of database servers and is running on those database > servers? > > The confusion seems to center around the word "distribute". What > constitutes distribution of MySQL? Thanks very much for your > help. Distribution for MySQL would mean more than one "copy" installed in a production environment, either internally or externally. Also note that if an end user used MySQL with a 3rd party commercial application, a non-GPL commercial license of MySQL is required. " So, that clears some things up for me, but this licensing policy does seem unnecessarily confusing. Thanks, Matt -- Matthew Zito GridApp Systems Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cell: 646-220-3551 Phone: 212-358-8211 x 359 http://www.gridapp.com > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Jacques Kilchoer > Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2003 10:35 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L > Subject: RE: MySQL in the future? > > > I'm glad I'm not a lawyer. What does distribute internally > mean? I work for company X and write an application to use a > MySQL database. I take the zip file I downloaded from MySQL > and install it to another server, and now two sets of people > are using the database on different machines with the same > application. Does that mean I distributed it internally? > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Matthew Zito [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > But its not that clear, though - look at this part: > > > > "As long as you never distribute (internally or externally) > the MySQL > > Software in any way, you are free to use it for powering your > > application, irrespective of whether your application is > under GPL or > > other OSI approved license or not. " > > > > So, I would interpret that as saying that if you wrote a web > > application > > or a win32 application that just connects to a centrally > located mysql > > database and runs queries, no need to GPL your software. > If your app > > comes with an installer that installs the app as well as mysql, its > > gotta be GPL or you have to purchase a commercial license. > -- > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net > -- > Author: Jacques Kilchoer > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com > San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') > and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB > ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed > from). You may also send the HELP command for other > information (like subscribing). > -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net -- Author: Matthew Zito INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services --------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).