Re: MySQL vs SVN licensing

On Sun, 2002-07-07 at 08:16, Paul Smith wrote:

> Because the MySQL client library is covered under the LGPL, not the GPL,
> and there is _absolutely no problem at all_ linking the LGPL'd client
> library with your package, no matter _what_ the license is.

This is the sticking point. MySQL AB *used* to claim that the client
library was covered by the LGPL, but they now make it clear that it is
covered by the GPL.

  http://www.mysql.com/doc/C/o/Copyright.html

Even when the client library was allegedly covered by the LGPL, it was
still de facto GPLed, because of a bizarre definition used by MySQL AB
to cover the notion of "linking".

Frankly, I'm glad they changed the client library to be GPLed. Their
additional licensing language used to be thoroughly obnoxious, but they
seem to have dropped all the stupidities and gone for something entirely
consistent and reasonable. Even if not compatible with SVN :-)

        <b