Re: Sun buys out MySQL

David Segall wrote:
> Arne Vajhøj <arne@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> SUN are already using the same model as MySQL !
>>
>> First of all: MySQL is dual licensed GPL with FLOSS exception and
>> commercial license.
>>
>> But the name is a slightly misleading - the GPL version can be used
>> with open source - the commercial version can be used with closed
>> source - it is all about open versus closed source - it does not
>> matter whether it is commercial or not.
>>
>> SUN has released their JVM and Java tool chain under GPL license. But I
>> believe they still sell it under a different license to companies that
>> want to use it as a basis for Java on their platform.
>>
>> Same basic model as far as I can tell.
>>
>> There is a small but im****tant difference. MySQL changed the license
>> of the client libraries from LGPL to GPL some years ago. If they follow
>> SUN's model for Java libraries that should be changed to GPL with
>> classpath exception.
> I should have followed your nomenclature and used "closed source"
> instead of "commercial".
> 
> My post was really only about the "small but im****tant difference" in
> your paragraph above. I can distribute a version of all of MySQL's
> competitors, including the closed source ones, with my closed source
> application. (See <http://database.profectus.com.au>).
If I want to
> use MySQL without paying for it I must open source my application.

No.

You can use MySQL all you want to internally without open sourcing
anything. The GPL effect only becomes active when you start distributing
your software.

And the criteria is whether your code is "linked" with GPL code. Your
code can use MySQL via Hibernate without problems, because it is
Hibernate not your code that are linked with MySQL libs and
Hibernate meets the open source criteria. It is only if your
code is linked with MySQL that the license becomes an issue.

What really constitutes "linking" in Java is not very well defined,
but Class.forName("com.mysql.jdbc.Driver") can definitely be argued
to be linking.

>                                                                    I
> can use the NetBeans platform, GlassFish, JavaDB and Solaris with my
> closed source application and I expected Sun to change the license of
> MySQL to conform to this model.

JavaDB is an Apache product not a SUN product - and the Apache license
does not have any GPL type issues.

NetBeans and Glassfish are GPL with classpath exception.

>                                Is there any indication that they will
> do so?

I don't know.

I think they should.

It would have a relative small impact for those making closed
source end user Java apps.

But it would have big impacts for those creating closed source
Java middleware (used by end user Java apps).

Arne