I suppose you need to get the facts straight before commenting. If you are talking about mySql then it is only free to use and modify with open source projects. This means that if "YOU" create applications using mySql under the GPL then your application also has to be open sourced. Being that linux is an operating system and not a back-end to other applications as MySql is, it cannot be made into anything other than a operating system in some way shape or form. Anyways, do you want your applications distributed as open source? I use the free version for development, but inform clients that they need to purchase the enterprise version for their own use.
What is MySQL's software licensing model? MySQL uses a "dual licensing" business model. Under this model, users may choose to use MySQL products under the free software/open source GNU General Public License (commonly known as the "GPL") or under a commercial license. With the GPL license, MySQL is available free of charge, as long as the use of MySQL adheres to the terms of GPL license. Users may download the software for free and modify, integrate and distribute it. However, GPL users must abide by the rules of the GPL, which stipulate that if a MySQL-based application is redistributed, the complete source code for this application must also be open and available for redistribution. MySQL AB offers a commercial license for organizations that do not want to release the source code for their application. Commercial license customers get a commercially supported product with a level of assurance from MySQL AB, without the requirement that their MySQL-based software must be "open sourced". MySQL is able to provide a commercial license because it has full ownership of the MySQL code. MySQL's dual licensing increases freedom in two ways: first, it encourages the growth of free software by licensing MySQL under the GPL; second, it makes it possible to use our software in situations where the GPL is not applicable. Doug B. ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Paul Ashenfelter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "CF-Talk" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 9:25 AM Subject: Re: OT: MySql going public (No more freebies) > On 2/5/07, Doug Brown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > This sucks...I guess it was bound to happen :( > > > > http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=26F5F8B6-8CC6-4529-8DE7-65732FA84347 > > > Wow, I'm not sure you really read the article, or at least understood > it. Please don't start ridiculous FUD. > > MySQL is a _leader_ in open source business models and bluntly they're > not hurting for money (even the article points out they have nearly > HALF of their VC money in the bank). They fight for open source rights > in the EU parliment and they have to my knowledge the only serious > case in this country relating to enforcing the GPL on someone who > tried to abuse it and their IP (all the litigation around NuSphere > from about 4 years ago). > > Maybe looking at their focus on free, fair licenses would reduce your > panic (eg http://www.planetmysql.org/kaj/?p=81). Maybe if Monty and > David die, Brian Aker is hit by a bus, and about 150 developers die of > food poisoning at their dev retreat, then *just maybe* the remaining > 3-4 marketing folks would try and turn it into a product that's not > free. Of course since ALL THE PREVIOUS CODE IS GPLv2, YOU'D STILL HAVE > ACCESS. That's the *POINT* of open source -- you have the source. > > As an aside, MySQL has had dual licensing for quite a while (GPL and > private). They also _require_ payment for embedded devices. They also > now have a non-community edition that's licensed per server (MySQL > Enterprise). None of this is particularly new. Nor is the fact that > tthey go after investment money (note the article mentions the C round > of financing -- which is when the current CEO came in *and* happened > about 2 years ago -- oh no, they took VC money, panic panic). > > The sky is not falling, and thanks to the GPLv2 that MySQL is licensed > under, your *absolute worst case* scenario is that you can continue > using the version of MySQL you currently have forever. > > -- > John Paul Ashenfelter > CTO/Transitionpoint > (blog) http://www.ashenfelter.com > (email) [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Upgrade to Adobe ColdFusion MX7 Experience Flex 2 & MX7 integration & create powerful cross-platform RIAs http:http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;56760587;14748456;a?http://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion/flex2/?sdid=LVNU Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Talk/message.cfm/messageid:268688 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Talk/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4
