Commit c53c7ff2 authored by unknown's avatar unknown

Licensing info clarified/updated (from David).

parent ebce809d
......@@ -1457,20 +1457,21 @@ automatically give you the right to use @code{MySQL AB} trademarks.
@subsubsection Using the MySQL Software Under a Commercial License
The @code{GPL} license is contagious in the sense that when a program
is linked to a @code{GPL} program the resulting product must also be
released under @code{GPL} lest you break the license terms and forfeit
your right to use the @code{GPL} program altogether.
is linked to a @code{GPL} program all the source code for all the parts
of the resulting product must also be released under the @code{GPL}.
Otherwise you break the license terms and forfeit your right to use the
@code{GPL} program altogether and also risk damages.
You need a commercial license:
@itemize @bullet
@item
When you link a program with code from the @code{MySQL} software or from
@code{GPL} released clients and don't want the resulting product to be
@code{GPL}, maybe because you want to build a commercial product or keep
the added non-@code{GPL} code closed source for other reasons. When
purchasing commercial licenses, you are not using the @code{MySQL} software
under @code{GPL} even though it's the same code.
When you link a program with any @code{GPL} code from the @code{MySQL}
software and don't want the resulting product to be @code{GPL}, maybe
because you want to build a commercial product or keep the added
non-@code{GPL} code closed source for other reasons. When purchasing
commercial licenses, you are not using the @code{MySQL} software under
@code{GPL} even though it's the same code.
@item
When you distribute a non-@code{GPL} application that @strong{only} works with the
......@@ -1509,37 +1510,39 @@ please contact our sales staff at @email{sales@@mysql.com}.
@cindex licensing, free
@cindex free licensing
You can use the @code{MySQL} software for free under the @code{GPL}:
You can use the @code{MySQL} software for free under the @code{GPL} if
you adhere to the conditions of the @code{GPL}.
For more complete coverage of the common questions about the @code{GPL}
see the generic FAQ from the Free Software Foundation at
@uref{http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html}.
Some common cases:
@itemize @bullet
@item
When you link a program with code from the @code{MySQL} software and
release the resulting product under @code{GPL}.
When you distribute both your own application as well as the @code{MySQL}
source code under the @code{GPL} with your product.
@item
When you distribute the @code{MySQL} source code bundled with
other programs that are not linked to or dependent on @code{MySQL Server}
When you distribute the @code{MySQL} source code bundled with other
programs that are not linked to or dependent on the @code{MySQL} system
for their functionality even if you sell the distribution commercially.
This is called mere aggregation in the @code{GPL} license.
@item
When using the @code{MySQL} software internally in your company.
If you are not distributing @strong{any} part of the @code{MySQL}
system, you can use it for free.
@item
@cindex ISP services
@cindex services, ISP
@cindex services, web
@cindex Internet Service Providers
When you are an Internet Service Provider (ISPs) offering web
hosting with @code{MySQL} servers for your customers.
On the other hand, we do encourage people to use ISPs that have
@code{MySQL} support, as this will give them the confidence that if
they have some problem with the @code{MySQL} installation, their ISP
will in fact have the resources to solve the problem for them.
All ISPs that want to keep themselves up-to-date should subscribe
to our @code{announce} mailing list so that they can be aware of
critical issues that may be relevant for their @code{MySQL} installations.
When you are an Internet Service Provider (ISP), offering web hosting
with @code{MySQL} servers for your customers.
However, we do encourage people to use ISPs that have MySQL support,
as this will give them the confidence that if they have some problem
with the @code{MySQL} installation, their ISP will in fact have the
resources to solve the problem for them.
Note that even if an ISP does not have a commercial license for
@code{MySQL Server}, they should at least give their customers read
access to the source of the @code{MySQL} installation so that the
......@@ -1548,12 +1551,13 @@ customers can verify that it is patched correctly.
@item
@cindex web server, running
@cindex running a web server
When you use the @code{MySQL} Database Software in conjunction with
a web server, you do not need a commercial license. This is true even
if you run a commercial web server that uses @code{MySQL Server}, because
you are not selling an embedded @code{MySQL} version yourself. However,
in this case we would like you to purchase @code{MySQL} support because
the @code{MySQL} software is helping your enterprise.
When you use the @code{MySQL} Database Software in conjunction with a
web server, you do not need a commercial license (so long as it is not
a product you distribute). This is true even if you run a commercial
web server that uses @code{MySQL Server}, because you are not
distributing any part of the @code{MySQL} system. However, in this
case we would like you to purchase @code{MySQL} support because the
@code{MySQL} software is helping your enterprise.
@end itemize
If your use of @code{MySQL} database software does not require a commercial
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