-----Original Message----- From: Janusz Jeczmionka To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 5/29/03 10:05 AM Subject: GPL again
Hello, I'm not a lawyer so I can not understand all the rights that GPL gives to us by I'm wondering if it is legal to modify the licence by MySQL AB. First let's look at following FAQs: 1. "Why should I use the GNU GPL rather than other free software licenses? Using the GNU GPL will require that all the released improved versions be free software. This means you can avoid the risk of having to compete with a proprietary modified version of your own work. However, in some special situations it can be better to use a more permissive license." 2. "If I use a piece of software that has been obtained under the GNU GPL, am I allowed to modify the original code into a new program, then distribute and sell that new program commercially? You are allowed to sell copies of the modified program commercially, but only under the terms of the GNU GPL. Thus, for instance, you must make the source code available to the users of the program as described in the GPL, and they must be allowed to redistribute and modify it as described in the GPL. These requirements are the condition for including the GPL-covered code you received in a program of your own." 3. "If a library is released under the GPL (not the LGPL), does that mean that any program which uses it has to be under the GPL? Yes, because the program as it is actually run includes the library." 4. "Can the developer of a program who distributed it under the GPL later license it to another party for exclusive use? No, because the public already has the right to use the program under the GPL, and this right cannot be withdrawn." So why MySQL AB can sell commercial versions of the software if it is based on GPL??? Even if they takes money for that does'n it mean that the software is still GPL'd and cannot be used in commercial applications??? And what about adding MySQL specific terms to licensce??? Can anybody explain it to me??? Thanx Janusz _______________________________________________ sapdb.general mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://listserv.sap.com/mailman/listinfo/sapdb.general _______________________________________________ sapdb.general mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://listserv.sap.com/mailman/listinfo/sapdb.general
