Martin Koegler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > The newer MySQL client libraries are GPL (with the FLOSS exception), > older versions were LGPL. > > At http://dev.mysql.com/doc/internals/en/licensing-notice.html > MySQL has put a descrption of their network protocol, where they > force programs using this protocol to be GPL: > >>The MySQL Protocol is proprietary. >> >>The MySQL Protocol is part of the MySQL Database Management System. >>As such, it falls under the provisions of the GNU Public License (GPL). >>A copy of the GNU Public License is available on MySQL's web site, and >>in the product download. >> >>Because this is a GPL protocol, any product which uses it to connect >>to a MySQL server, or to emulate a MySQL server, or to interpose >>between any client and server which uses the protocol, or for any >>similar purpose, is also bound by the GPL. Therefore if you use this >>description to write a program, you must release your program as >>GPL. Contact MySQL AB if you need clarification of these terms or if >>you need to ask about alternative arrangements.
What are those people smoking? Writing a program that implements a protocol does not in any way I've ever heard of create anything derived from the protocol specification. An MPEG decoder is not a derivative of the MPEG specification (patents issues are unrelated), and this is no different in principle. Remember that it is perfectly legal to reverse engineer a protocol, and then proceed to write your own programs using it. Surely, there can't be more restrictions when the specification is publicly available. -- Måns Rullgård [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
