RE: [gnome-db] MySQL client API is GPL, not LGPL

[Rodrigo Moya <rodrigo gnome-db org>]

On Thu, 2003-12-11 at 20:24, Murray Cumming Comneon com wrote:
> > On Thu, 2003-12-11 at 16:40, Murray Cumming Comneon com wrote:
> > > > On Thu, 2003-12-11 at 13:52, Murray Cumming Comneon com wrote:
> > > > > I recently discovered that MySQL changed the license for
> > > > their client
> > > > > libs to GPL, although it was previously LGPL. But 
> > libgda is LGPL. 
> > > > > I
> > > > > don't think that is possible, if libgda links to the MySQL libs.
> > > > > 
> > > > right, we suspected this, but haven't had enough time to see
> > > > what to do. So, what do people think?
> > > > 
> > > > Should we make the MySQL provider just link with the LGPL
> > > > versions (3.x.x)?
> > > 
> > > I don't think that's a good plan for the future. Eventually MySQL 4 
> > > will be everywhere and MySQL 3 will not.
> > > 
> > yes, that was my question, if from now on all MySQL libraries 
> > will be GPL, or if there will be some LGPL 
> > a-bit-older-than-the-GPL release
> 
> I don't actually know whether they install in parallel, but I think it is
> highly unlikely. MySQL don't do that kind of thing very well.
> 
I dont mean in parallel. AFAIK, MySQL has been doing that, releasing a
closed version, and some months later, releasing that same version as
LGPL. I was wondering if they'll do the same with the GPL/LGPL licenses.

> > > > This seems to be the best thing to do, but
> > > > would there newer LGPL versions, or from now on all will be GPL?
> > > 
> > > We are unlikely to get a clear explanation from MySQL.
> >
> > > 
> > how so? Do you think asking them is not worthy?
> 
> Yes, but feel free. I have a very low opinion of the MySQL company. It is
> hard enough just to discover what the licenses are. They seem to be confused
> themselves.
>  
ok, I'll ask them anyway, so that we at least can say we have tried :-)

> > > I guess some kind of plug-in system would be helpful. Then we could 
> > > ship the MySQL provider separately, under the GPL.
> > > 
> > that would still be "illegal", I guess, since it would still 
> > be linking, in some way or the other, unless we use an IPC 
> > mechanism, like CORBA or whatever for the MySQL provider.
> 
> Yes, maybe, I guess so. I hoped that we could pass on the responsibility to
> the developer who decided to use the GPL provider.
> 
yes, we could disable the provider, but still have it available in the
source tree. Not sure what about that.

> It looks like you need to remove the MySQL provider.
> 
I hope there is a better solution than this, but if that's what we have
to do, sadly we'll do it :-(

cheers