Dear Open-source Advocate (whoever you are),
First off, the answer whether or not MySQL is bundled is resolved: It was an
error in the documentation. MySQL is not bundled. As to the licensing issue,
a few weeks ago we had exactly this discussion on the Merchant list, and my
impression is that in spite of the licensing terms that you quote correctly
(I quoted exactly the same at the time)
A.) MySQL is not required to run Merchant 5, it still runs with MivaSQL
B.) MySQL is not bundled into Merchant 5 or Empresa
C.) No connectors or other middleware by MySQL AB are used in the product
So consequently Miva Corp removes all responsability from any licensing
issues. On the other hand, I think that Miva Corp should tell end-users and
ISPs the ramifications of using a MySQL/merchant combo - and that it
probably requires them to buy a commercial MySQL license if used in a
commercial and proprietary product. If they don't state this clearly, I am
afraid that sooner or later a bunch of furious Swedish laywers set sail to
San Diego - or attack end users and ISPs.
markus
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2005 5:58 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: MIVA Empresa Virtual Machine 5 - Now Available
MvMarkus [email protected] Wrote:
>
>Congratulations to the new release!
>
>2 short questions: Will there be a compiler upgrade as well? I tried
>some of the new tags/functions and some work, some don't (MvREFERENCE for
example).
>
>Also, in the 5.0 docs for host is written that the installer will
>install and configure MySQL and MivaSQL automatically, however I don't
>see that it installed MySQL on my machine (Win2003 Server). Shall I
>install it by myself?
>
>
>
>Markus
>
>
>
Hi Markus,
I would suspect that you wouldn't want to have to pay for a MySQL commercial
license ($595.00/Server/Year), which would definitely be required if Miva
packed that database with its products. In fact, I don't understand how Miva
Corporation can even have their proprietary software use MySQL unless they
too are prepared to purchase commercial licenses from MySQL for EVERY server
that their software runs on. It will be further interesting to see where all
the module developers end up when they too, will probably be required to
purchase a commercial license for MySQL if their proprietary software hooks
into a MySQL database.
I guess one could get around this licensing requirement by NOT using MySQL.
But would anyone not want to use MySQL which is a true and trusted database
that has years of developmental support from the open-source community as
opposed to an untested proprietary thing called Miva-SQL?
Not only is security and stability one of the draws to using MySQL, but also
the fact that there are so many other programming tools, like Perl and PHP
that can access a MySQL database and can't access a Miva-SQL database.
It will be interesting to see how Miva Corporation, their hosting partners
and the MM module development partners and end-users intend to live up to
the commercial requirements of MySQL which states:
"If you include the MySQL server with an application that is not licensed
under the GPL or GPL-compatible license, you need a commercial license for
the MySQL server."
"If you develop and distribute a commercial application and as part of
utilizing your application, the end-user must download a copy of MySQL; for
each derivative work, you (or, in some cases, your end-user) need a
commercial license for the MySQL server and/or MySQL client libraries."
Like I said ... it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out. :-)
Sincerely,
Open-Source Advocate
--
From: Open-Source Advocate <[email protected]>
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