[Leaplist] GPL good or bad?

[Steve Litt]

On Monday 21 December 2009 15:46:14 Vernon Singleton wrote:
> This is not easy to understand ...
> http://monty-says.blogspot.com/2009/10/importance-of-license-model-of-mysql
> -or.html
> 
> He says, "One can fork a GPL project (i.e. the code), but one can't
> easily duplicate the economic infrastructure around it."
> 
> Ok.  I'm with you ... makes sense right?
> 
> He later says, "Most of the technology partners, where most of the
> innovation in the MySQL space happen nowadays, depend on being able to
> get licenses for MySQL so that they can combine their closed source
> application or closed code (like storage engines) with MySQL."
> 
> Someone help me.  What licenses is he talking about?  Apparently not
> the GPL.  Aren't the licenses he is talking about the kind of dual
> licenses that the GPL expressly forbids?
> 
> He then later says, "I think that GPL is a fantastic license".
> 
> Now I'm really lost.  Imagine that.
> 


I quote from the article:

"the fork can't be used by anyone who needs to distribute it with their own 
closed source parts or use it with others closed source parts."

Oh Bullfeathers! You can't *link* your closed code with GPL code. But you can 
certainly aggregate the two on the same CD. I quote from GPL version 2:

"In addition, mere aggregation of another work not based on the Program with 
the Program (or with a work based on the Program) on a volume of a storage or 
distribution medium does not bring the other work under the scope of this 
License."

Monty knows this.

There are many, many ways to use MySQL that don't involve linking your program 
with MySQL code. If nothing else, you could make a GPL program to expose the 
MySQL feature set from external commands (i.e. mysql executable) and make it 
accessible through a socket. One side of the socket is proprietary, the other 
is GPL, and nowhere do the code sets mix in source or binary form. Heck, I 
could probably write it myself.

Monty knows this.

I therefore believe this article to be disingenuous. My guess is that Monty 
has an agenda to which I'm not privy, and for reasons I don't know is trying 
to sow the seeds of doubt as to the survival of MySQL. What I DO know is that 
Monty is the lead developer for MariaDB, which IIRC is an interface drop in 
replacement for MySQL, and that MariaDB and MySQL are competitors.

Whatever the agenda, I'd be very cautious about basing any beliefs about the 
GPL on Monty's article.

STeveT

Steve Litt
Recession Relief Package
http://www.recession-relief.US
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/stevelitt


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