Ben Clewett wrote:
MySQL say that this is an extension of the application, and therefore breaks the GPL, and therefore a licence is needed. They are however, the only big GPL user who thinks this way.
No they're not. The issue is not the use of the server (as previously discussed a few weeks back), but the library. If you use the older library version (which is LGPL'd), you can basically do as you please as you believe you should be able to. As the new library is under the GPL, you can't legally link it to a non-GPL-compatible program at all (without purchasing a different license).
Therefore, I can see no reason why not somebody could fork MySQL into FreeSQL.
You forget that (as someone else pointed out, perhaps Ben) MySQL's Copyright still lies with MySQL AB. You can fork the code and modify and distribute it _under the GPL_ but that doesn't buy you anything -- you don't then have the right to link it against a commercial program or even to relicense it. All you have is a renamed version of MySQL that is still under the GPL. That's not what you're hoping for, is it?
It's either GPL or cpryright, not both. Then use this without commercial licence...
You obviously need a good lawyer. The GPL is a license agreement, not a Copyleft statement. Copyright still applies (as it does to all works) and the license specifically states that. In fact, the GPL text says that if you don't agree to all the limitations of the GPL then you simply fall under those of international Copyright law, which are much harsher (and still apply). You need to re-read the GPL a few times and pay a lawyer to help you understand it.
MySQL really that good? I do worry that with arrogant statements like this, this is exactly what people will do, in droves.
Many people here are perfectly happy with the GPL, I might add. I license all my MySQL-related code under the GPL. I don't distribute it to anyone, so its not terribly relevant, but its well marked and noted as being either GPL'd or for personal use only (most of which is GPL'd as well).
I don't write much commercial, non-GPL code. I write a lot of commercial and GPL'd code though, and so do many other people (like MySQL AB). You might want to consider it too.
--
Michael T. Babcock
C.T.O., FibreSpeed Ltd.
http://www.fibrespeed.net/~mbabcock
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