MySQL Licensing and Website Development

[acidbreeze]

As MySQL's commercial licensing scheme at http://www.mysql.com/products/licensing/commercial-license.html says "Typical examples of MySQL distribution include: ... Selling software that requires customers to install MySQL themselves on their own machines."

Now whether or not that is actually MySQL distribution and whether or not one's software product is a derivative work of MySQL is still under contention, but assuming that this is true, wouldn't a website developer selling a custom PHP/MySQL-driven site need to pay for a MySQL license as well?

[drawmack]

that depends, if the site itself already has mysql installed then I can write software that uses that preexisting installation and legally there is nothing they can do about it. That would be like minilimp requiring me to buy a license to write a macro for someone.

[acidbreeze]

I don't think that MySQL simply intends that the proprietary software requires the customer to install MySQL at that moment; rather, I think that MySQL was referring to the necessity of having downloaded/installed MySQL before/along with the application installation. Otherwise, the definition of a pre-existing installation may become very arbitrary.

I do agree with you that interfacing with the database services through another client library (such as PHP's) is far different from developing a database client as part of the application in order to manipulate and interact with with the MySQL server. Interesting, though, that some folks at MySQL disagree and demand quid pro quo.

[laserlight]

but assuming that this is true, wouldn't a website developer selling a custom PHP/MySQL-driven site need to pay for a MySQL license as well?

If the script that is being sold is licensed under one of the source licenses listed in the exception, then the answer is obviously no.

[acidbreeze]

Usually, site developers do not release their sources, i.e. they develop and sell proprietary websites. What about under these conditions? Apparently, this affects the majority of PHP/MySQL site developers offering paid services.

[rachel2004]

I haven't been a subscriber to the MySQL mailing list in a while, but I remember when I was, it was pretty well moderated. Maybe if you post the same concerns there, one of the MySQL reps can answer it directly so you don't put yourself in any legal situations if you develop anything with MySQL.

[Sxooter]

I'd like to point out that both FirebirdSQL and PostgreSQL are entirely free, with BSD style licenses that let you do what you want.

They're also better databases.

[acidbreeze]

true that; I wish there were more widespread support of pgsql, especially on the paid hosting solutions

[Sxooter]

It's becoming more common in the mid level commercial $30 to $100 a month range.

check out www.pghosting.com