On Wed, 2004-02-11 at 00:47, Steve Crawford wrote:
>
> MySQL seems to have a weird self-serving interpretation of GPL and I
> don't trust them.
This is not only a problem with MySQL, IMO. I stopped using PDFLib for
a similar reason. Their license (Aladdin Public License) stated that
use was beyond the scope of the license, but their web site asked for a
fee for any "commercial use" and their interpretation seemed to include
many in-house uses.
I am in the process, among other things, of finalizing the business plan
for a consulting firm I will be starting based on open source
solutions. Our choice of products to support has a lot to do with these
sorts of issues. Needless to say, PostgreSQL gets our vote :-)
Part of the issue is avoiding litigation. If MySQL AB starts to run out
of funds, I don't want to see another fiaSCO emerge... If they are not
trustworthy, or seem to be pushing the limits of a license, then they
are not worth doing business with.
Best Wishes,
Chris Travers
