Re: best solution for using a database and Java

From: Alex Molochnikov (NOBODY_at_NOSPAM.COM)
Date: 07/16/04 

Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2004 01:59:40 GMT

I've had a discussion of this subject with MySQL Sales Manager. The bottom
line: if the application is not dependent on MySQL for its operation (e.g.
can work with some other RDBMS) and communicates with MySQL via a JDBC
driver (therefore, does not have static links to MySQL) then it does not
come under GPL. This is pretty much in line with the common interpretation
of GPL; the only difference being the "aggregation" (distribution of the
GPLed software with the non-GPLed product), which is specifically
permissible under the GPL, but not in MySQL's interpretation.

Alex Molochnikov
Gestalt Corporation
www.gestalt.com

"Christopher Browne" <cbbrowne@acm.org> wrote in message
news:m3n021eymo.fsf@wolfe.cbbrowne.com...
> After takin a swig o' Arrakan spice grog, nathanz@hotmail.com (Nathan
Zumwalt) belched out:
> > I see Bill and Steve are still trolling the newsgroups spreading FUD
> > under assumed names.
> >
> > You're only required to GPL code if it is statically linked to the
> > core MySQL engine (which is itself GPL'ed). If you're statically
> > linking your web app to a database server, you've got bigger problems
> > than the GPL.
>
> If that is your interpretation of MySQL AB's license, then I suggest
> you take that up with the vendor.
>
> <http://www.mysql.com/products/licensing/>
>
> At MySQL AB, we believe in open source / free software and we welcome
> all initiatives to publish more software under the GPL license, just
> as we have done.
>
> In their simplest form, the following are general licensing
> guidelines:
>
> * If your software is licensed under either the
> GPL-compatible Free Software License as defined by the Free
> Software Foundation or approved by OSI, then use our GPL
> licensed version.
>
> * If you distribute a proprietary application in any way, and you
> are not licensing and distributing your source code under GPL,
> you need to purchase a commercial license of MySQL
>
> * If you are unsure, we recommend that you buy our cost effective
> commercial licenses. That is the safest solution. Licensing
> questions can submitted online for our advice, and we encourage
> you to refer to the Free Software Foundation or a lawyer as
> appropriate.
>
> That set of "guidelines" doesn't say anything about static linking.
> It says that if the application is proprietary "in any way," then you
> have to pay.
> --
> let name="cbbrowne" and tld="ntlug.org" in name ^ "@" ^ tld;;
> http://www.ntlug.org/~cbbrowne/multiplexor.html
> On the other hand, you have different fingers.