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Election 2006 (and beyond): Digital Copyright Canada
From: russell_-at-_flora.ottawa.on.ca (Russell McOrmond)
Date: 18 Aug 2000 11:59:01 -0400
Great to see this package going GPL (Full announcement at end of
message). They were previously making old versions GPL, having their
frustrating "We hate Microsoft" clauses on the latest releases. This
makes the use of MySQL so much cleaner with all rights much better
understood.
Now if we can only get PHP4/Zend to go back to the GPL or to a clear
Free Software license. They seem to be heading the other way. PHP3 has a
duel (sp ;-) licensed with GPL and their custom "PHP License". The new
license for PHP4 seems incompatable with the GPL, and doesn't seem clear
on ones rights for derivative works, contributions, redistribution/etc.
There are practical aspects that seem worse than the origional BSD
license.
http://www.php.net/version4/license-FAQ.php
- This contains offensive/incorrect commentary against the GPL which
indicates to me that the author of the FAQ didn't understand the GPL. It
is fine to not use it because you don't desire that type of license (IE:
Want derivative works to be able to be proprietary, etc) but this reads
more like a 'position piece' opposing the GPL than a FAQ.
Here is FAQ question 1:
---cut---
Q. Why is PHP 4.0 no longer under the GNU Public License (GPL)?
(RWM: It is the "GNU General Public License")
A. There are several reasons. First off, even PHP 3.0 could be distributed
under the PHP License, at the user's discretion.
The reason for that was that the GPL is often too restrictive;
[RWM: Without naming those 'restrictions', this reads as a flame not as an
answer. I suspect they mean the inability to link with proprietary works,
making the LGPL, New-BSD or X11 licenses appropriate]
Since we didn't want to discourage commercial companies from
redistributing PHP along with their PHP-based applications; And, since we
wanted to give commercial companies the ability to contribute to PHP
(almost all commercial companies cannot contribute code to GPL'd software,
for legal reasons) - we've decided to drop the GPL altogether.
[RWM: This the 'position piece', and seems to be based on a common
misunderstanding of the english language, equating 'Commercial Companies'
with 'Proprietary Software Companies'. While it is true that one cannot
contribute proprietary code to GPL'd software {Which would make this
derivative work proprietary, one of the things that the GPL protects
against if one wants such protection}, it does not in any way restrict
for-profit commercial companies from contributing non-proprietary code.
The comment in round-brackets, taken with a proper use of the language, is
false]
---cut---
Here is the actual text of the license:
http://www.php.net/license/2_02.txt
I've emailed the PHP group for clarification, but didn't get much. At
this point I need to stick with PHP3 until some understanding (IE: A real
FAQ, not a position piece) or modification of the license comes about.
I have emailed the GNU people to see if they have an interest in doing
an analysis and adding it to:
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/license-list.html
I know I've had a hard time deciphering the new PHP license and would
rather someone with more experience do this.
---
Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://russell.flora.org/work/>
Green Party of Canada: Convention 2000 <http://Ottawa2000.flora.org/>
Ralph Nader for U.S. President! <http://www.votenader.org/>
Problems @ FLORA <http://www.flora.org/flora.status/>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 14:53:50 +0300 (EEST)
From: Michael Widenius <monty@mysql.com>
To: announce@lists.mysql.com
Subject: MySQL goes GPL (Delayed announcement)
Hi!
This email should have gone to announce@lists.mysql.com a while ago,
but because of a wrong procfile rule, the email was delayed for a
while. I decided to do a repost if someone happened to miss this :)
Regards,
Monty
>>>>> "Michael" == Michael Widenius <monty@mysql.com> writes:
Hi!
Here follows our GPL announcement:
*MySQL GOES GPL
"We have always considered ourselves committed members of the Open
Source and Free Software communities," said Monty Widenius, project
leader on MySQL. Moving to the GNU General Public License (GPL) is a
way to show this". It is the latest beta (version 3.23.19) and all new
releases that is being GPLed.
*MySQL forms strategic alliances with VA Linux and Progress Software
To further establish MySQL as the standard open source database we
have formed strategic alliances with both VA Linux and Progress. We
hope that this will increase MySQL's viability for even the very
demanding commercial customers since it will increase the support
offerings and speed up the further development of MySQL to make it even
better.
*VA Linux makes an investment in MySQL AB
VA Linux has made an investment in MySQL and will work with MySQL on
advanced support and service programs. VA Linux will also host MySQL as a
project on SourceForge.net, the world's largest Open Source
development center, growing steadily with over 5,800 software projects
and over 37,000 registered users.
"I've been a big fan of MySQL for years, so it's cool to see them take
this step," said Rob "CmdrTaco" Malda, founder of Slashdot.org, the
largest news/community site for Open Source developers.
"All of the VA Linux and Andover.Net web sites-including Slashdot.org,
Freshmeat.net, SourceForge and Linux.com-have been built on MySQL,"
said Dr. Larry M. Augustin, president and CEO of VA Linux Systems. "We
are honored to host the development of MySQL on SourceForge, and we
look forward to offering in-depth support of MySQL through our
alliance with the project team. By moving to the GPL, MySQL will
increase its distribution base; we look forward to being able to ship
MySQL with our systems."
More information on WWW.Valinux.com.
*Progress Software helps free MySQL with GPL license
To create an open source business, Progress Software has formed NuSphere,
a Progress Software Company, to distribute and support the NuSphere MySQL
open source database.
Progress Software will be providing up to $2.5 million (US) to help
further the development of MySQL. NuSphere will extend the core
development team's efforts by creating NuSphere MySQLÔ; a
multi-platform integrated distribution of MySQL and related open
source products. NuSphere will provide commercial support,
consulting, and training for customers deploying MySQL as part of
their web infrastructure. As a single, global source of integrated
services for MySQL, NuSphere will provide support from three main
support centers in the U.S., the Netherlands and Australia.
NuSphere chose to support MySQL because of its position as the
market-leading open source database for web infrastructure. MySQL is
especially well suited for capturing web site traffic, providing
authentication and authorization services, and content
personalization. The MySQL database is the first widely used database
product released under the Free Software Foundation's General Public
License (GPL). The GPL is also used to license the Linux operating
system, and is widely accepted by the open source community.
"Progress Software's financial and technical support of MySQL will
help this very popular but currently grass-roots open source database
gain greater acceptance by mainstream IT organizations," commented
Mark Driver Research Director for Internet & eBusiness Technologies of
Gartner Group."
Developers, IT professionals and database administrators can visit
www.nusphere.com for more information on NuSphere's products and
services including NuSphere MySQL.
Contacts to MySQL AB
For more information please send questions and comments to
info@mysql.com or David Axmark <david@mysql.com>.
Regards,
David & Monty
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