[Leaplist] GPL good or bad?

[Bryan J Smith]

On Mon, 2009-12-21 at 22:44 -0500, Jim Hartley wrote:
> Then I looked at all the horse-hockey MySQL licensing ...

I think you're confusing the GPL redistributed version of MySQL with the
MySQL AB commercially provided MySQL version.  The former is
redistributed under the GPL.  The latter is distributed under a
commercial license.

The GPL redistributed version is no different than any other GPL
software.  The latter is a commercial software agreement you make with
MySQL AB.

> I write stories and sell them to various pubs and e-pubs, and the 
> database is to keep track of which stories I've sent where. I'm really 
> trying to develop this into a paying business, filing a Schedule C with 
> my taxes. Hmmm, that makes this a commercial venture ... what was that 
> MySQL said about license fees for commercial use? Of course I doubt 
> they'd ever find out if I just installed a GPL copy, but still ...

So what you're blaming MySQL AB for is your own lack of understanding?
Tracking what you use?  Other?  That doesn't end with GPL.

> So I used PostGreSQL, which has a nice simple FREE license for everyone. 
> Problem solved!

If you prefer BSD style licenses, so be it.  But in all honesty, I find
this _major_ FUD.

GPL licenses protect copyright holders and the community they believe
in.  BSD licenses have caused a great amount of leeching and loss of
developer salaries.  In other words, GPL have often been shown to be
sustainable, whereas BSD licenses have rarely.

Sustainable software development is what I'm interested in.  If anyone
can explain to me, just a simple engineer, how BSD helps sustain
community development, I'm all ears.  But everything I've seen has shown
me that GPL is the license that ensures long-term development that stays
in the community.

It's _never_ been about "good" or "bad."  It's just about what the
copyright holders want to license under.



-- 
Bryan J  Smith         Professional, Technical Annoyance 
Linked Profile:       http://www.linkedin.com/in/bjsmith 
-------------------------------------------------------- 
Only engineers can solve the growing needs of consumers
Stop being "aware" (that's so '70s) and start supporting
real solutions that actually work and sustain the planet




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