LGPL -> GPL = less freedom [LWN.net]

LGPL -> GPL = less freedom

Posted May 28, 2003 15:02 UTC (Wed) by dion (subscriber, #2764)
In reply to: Why ? by khim
Parent article: MySQL AB and SAP AG Partner to Build New Open Source Databases

You ask why mysql wants to license the client libs under GPL, well that's easy, it's so they can sell the people who write non-free software a commercial license, go read:

Any way you cut it this is a move that will only hurt the current users of SAP DB.

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LGPL, "Lesser", since it does less to protect our freedom

Posted May 28, 2003 18:11 UTC (Wed) by coriordan (subscriber, #7544) [Link]

The MySQL AB approach gives companies two choices:
1) Release their software as Free Software
2) Keep the code proprietary and help finance a good free software company

If a company wants to use MySQL without contributing either code or cash, they are just a parasite.

Ciaran O'Riordan

LGPL -> GPL = less freedom

Posted May 29, 2003 16:46 UTC (Thu) by khim (subscriber, #9252) [Link]

Looks like MySQL AB silently changed licensing terms. They kept COPYING.LIB in distribution and changelog only mentions one change in licensing:

Changes in release 3.23.19
--------------------------

   * Changed copyright for all files to `GPL' for the server code and
     utilities and to LGPL for the client libraries.

but libmysql 4+ actually refers not to LGPL but to GPL now. Oops.