Licensing info clarified/updated (from David).

@subsubsection Using the MySQL Software Under a Commercial License

The @code{GPL} license is contagious in the sense that when a program

is linked to a @code{GPL} program the resulting product must also be

released under @code{GPL} lest you break the license terms and forfeit

your right to use the @code{GPL} program altogether.

is linked to a @code{GPL} program all the source code for all the parts

of the resulting product must also be released under the @code{GPL}.

Otherwise you break the license terms and forfeit your right to use the

@code{GPL} program altogether and also risk damages.

You need a commercial license:

@itemize @bullet

@item

When you link a program with code from the @code{MySQL} software or from

@code{GPL} released clients and don't want the resulting product to be

@code{GPL}, maybe because you want to build a commercial product or keep

the added non-@code{GPL} code closed source for other reasons. When

purchasing commercial licenses, you are not using the @code{MySQL} software

under @code{GPL} even though it's the same code.

When you link a program with any @code{GPL} code from the @code{MySQL}

software and don't want the resulting product to be @code{GPL}, maybe

because you want to build a commercial product or keep the added

non-@code{GPL} code closed source for other reasons. When purchasing

commercial licenses, you are not using the @code{MySQL} software under

@code{GPL} even though it's the same code.

@item

When you distribute a non-@code{GPL} application that @strong{only} works with the

@cindex licensing, free

@cindex free licensing

You can use the @code{MySQL} software for free under the @code{GPL}:

You can use the @code{MySQL} software for free under the @code{GPL} if

you adhere to the conditions of the @code{GPL}.

For more complete coverage of the common questions about the @code{GPL}

see the generic FAQ from the Free Software Foundation at

@uref{http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html}.

Some common cases:

@itemize @bullet

@item

When you link a program with code from the @code{MySQL} software and

release the resulting product under @code{GPL}.

When you distribute both your own application as well as the @code{MySQL}

source code under the @code{GPL} with your product.

@item

When you distribute the @code{MySQL} source code bundled with

other programs that are not linked to or dependent on @code{MySQL Server}

When you distribute the @code{MySQL} source code bundled with other

programs that are not linked to or dependent on the @code{MySQL} system

for their functionality even if you sell the distribution commercially.

This is called mere aggregation in the @code{GPL} license.

@item

When using the @code{MySQL} software internally in your company.

If you are not distributing @strong{any} part of the @code{MySQL}

system, you can use it for free.

@item

@cindex ISP services

@cindex services, ISP

@cindex services, web

@cindex Internet Service Providers

When you are an Internet Service Provider (ISPs) offering web

hosting with @code{MySQL} servers for your customers.

On the other hand, we do encourage people to use ISPs that have

@code{MySQL} support, as this will give them the confidence that if

they have some problem with the @code{MySQL} installation, their ISP

will in fact have the resources to solve the problem for them.

All ISPs that want to keep themselves up-to-date should subscribe

to our @code{announce} mailing list so that they can be aware of

critical issues that may be relevant for their @code{MySQL} installations.

When you are an Internet Service Provider (ISP), offering web hosting

with @code{MySQL} servers for your customers.

However, we do encourage people to use ISPs that have MySQL support,

as this will give them the confidence that if they have some problem

with the @code{MySQL} installation, their ISP will in fact have the

resources to solve the problem for them.

Note that even if an ISP does not have a commercial license for

@code{MySQL Server}, they should at least give their customers read

access to the source of the @code{MySQL} installation so that the

@item

@cindex web server, running

@cindex running a web server

When you use the @code{MySQL} Database Software  in conjunction with

a web server, you do not need a commercial license. This is true even

if you run a commercial web server that uses @code{MySQL Server}, because

you are not selling an embedded @code{MySQL} version yourself.  However,

in this case we would like you to purchase @code{MySQL} support because

the @code{MySQL} software is helping your enterprise.

When you use the @code{MySQL} Database Software in conjunction with a

web server, you do not need a commercial license (so long as it is not

a product you distribute). This is true even if you run a commercial

web server that uses @code{MySQL Server}, because you are not

distributing any part of the @code{MySQL} system. However, in this

case we would like you to purchase @code{MySQL} support because the

@code{MySQL} software is helping your enterprise.

@end itemize

If your use of @code{MySQL} database software does not require a commercial