On Fri, Jul 23, 2004 at 11:44:50PM -0500, Adam Majer wrote: > I think their exception is to allow free software to continue to use the > GPL version of MySQL software. They are doing this instead of reverting > back to LGPL because they want to get $$$ for licensing client libraries > for commercial software. > > I think MySQL will allow any free license to link with GPL MySQL, but I > would still ask MySQL AB if a license not listed is still allowed.
It doesn't actually prohibit commercial use under the exception, though. It seems that I could distribute my commercial, BSD-licensed application, linked against MySQL, without supplying source to my application (since the BSD license doesn't require it). They could copy and distribute the program, but use could be restricted technically. Granted, that wouldn't be good enough for most commercial vendors, who usually will want stronger licenses on their own work, so the exception probably does have the effect they want. (I'm assuming "derivative work" in "You obey the GNU General Public License in all respects for the Program and the Derivative Work" doesn't include the linked program; if it did, this wouldn't be an exception at all.) -- Glenn Maynard
